In the early 1980s, the legislative and executive leadership of the state of South Carolina recognized the importance of information technology (IT) and the need for coordinated IT planning and management. In 1981, the General Assembly enacted Section 11-35-1580 of the Consolidated Procurement Code. The code specifically mandated the development of a State plan for the management and use of information technology.
Pursuant to this requirement, the State Plan on Technology (SPOT) was developed in 1983 and resulted in the establishment of the Division of Information Resources Management (DIRM) as a part of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board. DIRM was responsible for telecommunications, information processing, planning and printing services. Later, the Division was reorganized into separate groups to accommodate the IT planning, procurement and operational needs of the State.
In 2001, the IT functions of the Board were realigned under the leadership of South Carolina government’s first State Chief Information Officer (CIO).
A timeline is listed below:
- (2008) CIO renamed Division of State Information Technology (DSIT)
- (2006) Governor signed into law S. 572, the proposed amendments to the Consolidated Procurement Code
- (2005) CIO launched new Web portal, SC.Gov
- (2002) South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) went live at the Department of Mental Health
- (2001) Budget and Control Board hired first State CIO
- (2001) OIR renamed Division of the State Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- (1999) Internet2 collaboration between the Board and the State’s research universities
- (1997) Information Resources Council established by Executive Order under Governor David Beasley to facilitate information resource planning and sharing among agencies
- (1996) Data Center Consolidation Study completed which resulted in the consolidation of eight separate data centers into one facility and K–12 School Technology Initiative established
- (1994) Some IT planning provisions deleted from Consolidated Procurement Code
- (1994) DIRM renamed Office of Information Resources (OIR)
- (1989) State Data Network established
- (1984) Burroughs mainframe computer purchased for shared use by multiple agencies
- (1983) Division of Information Resource Management (DIRM) established Statewide Integrated Telephone System
- (1981) Consolidated Procurement Code called for State IT Plan