SACRAMENTO — Even as an upbeat and reassuring Gov. Gray Davis reported last month that the state was 75% along in fixing its Y2K computer problems, technology experts throughout California's government were dubious.
The very next day a report from the state auditor suggested an almost opposite conclusion. And a week later, puzzled lawmakers were told at a legislative hearing that the two assessments were "apples and oranges."
Frankly, the governor's newly hired computer consultant testified, "we cannot tell you exactly where the shortcomings are or where we stand.
"We have launched a detailed reassessment of where we are today and from that we will be better able to inform the public," he said.
As for Davis' 75% estimate, Davis aides later acknowledged that that was based on old data they already considered faulty.
They still contend that that assessment could turn out to be correct after the current review of state computer systems is complete. But such a statistic can also be misleading, suggesting that the work is almost complete when experts say there is risk if even a quarter of the state's repair job is incomplete.
"I'm concerned that the job . . . is 'mission impossible' if we are very far behind, and my sense is that we could be very far behind," said state Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), who attended the special legislative hearing.
The upshot, officials acknowledge, is that California government is scrambling to get a grip on its Y2K problem before the notorious Year 2000 software glitch threatens to disrupt computer systems on New Year's Eve.
Most state officials are optimistic--if not confident--that they will at least repair the critical state systems responsible for public health and safety before a self-imposed deadline of Sept. 1.
But by all accounts, California's repair work is behind schedule. How far behind is uncertain.
The auditor found that some of the tests conducted were not adequately documented. Other systems had problems even though they were certified as fixed. And almost all state agencies still had plenty of work to do.
Davis responded to the backlog last month by creating three panels to rapidly assess and repair the problems. And last Wednesday, he met with experts from about a dozen high-tech companies that have agreed to participate in the effort.
"We would prefer to be a little farther down the road than we are," Davis told the group. "But I think with 296 days to go, we still have time to get this job done."
