Bill No. 821 amends Section 34.36 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which pertains to the state agency estimate of funds needed for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill requires state agencies to report their budget requests to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the Legislative Oversight Committee on State Budget Performance by October 1 each year. The amended language introduces a new requirement for agencies to include a quantification of their information technology and technology needs, along with estimated expenditures for these needs, as part of their budget requests. This addition aims to ensure that technology requirements are adequately addressed in the budgeting process.

Additionally, the bill removes a previous requirement that prohibited expenditures for certain technology-related purchases without prior written approval from the State Comptroller. The new language emphasizes the importance of including technology needs in the budgeting process, reflecting a shift towards recognizing the role of technology in state operations. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in state budgeting by ensuring that technology needs are clearly articulated and considered in financial planning.