Minnesota Agencies

The office shall provide leadership and direction for information and communications technology policy in Minnesota. The office shall coordinate strategic investments in information and communications technology to encourage the development of a technically literate society and to ensure sufficient access to and efficient delivery of government services.

The Minnesota Legislature passed SF1905 in 1997 which elevated the Minnesota Office of Technology from a division of Children, Families and Learning to an independent state agency within the executive branch (see Laws of Minnesota 1997, chapter 202). (See also HF120/SF100, smaller bills that contained provisions eventually wrapped into SF1905, which was the omnibus state government bill.)  An article from "Session Weekly" on March 28, 1997 (p.16) explains the idea behind making the Office of Technology a standalone state agency.

The Minnesota Office of Technology was combined with the InterTechnologies Group in 2005 to form the Office of Enterprise Technology (OET). This new office was formed in response to recommendations by the Minnesota Drive to Excellence, a 2005 report on reforming government services and processes. 

John Gunyou served as the office's executive director from its inception until December 1997. JoAnn Hanson replaced him as executive director.