Thompson calls for panel to prevent year 2000 'disaster'

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By Steven Walters

of the Journal Sentinel staff

July 28, 1998

Madison -- Warning of a potential "disaster" in only 17 months, Gov. Tommy Thompson said Monday he will create a panel to help local governments and private businesses work through serious economic and safety threats posed by the year 2000 computer problem.

Also Monday, Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Town of Brookfield) said he will direct an Assembly study committee to recommend new legal liability limits for companies and governments that end up owing damages as a result of the computer problem.

"I am very fearful," Thompson said at a news conference in front of a state digital clock counting down the seconds, hours and days until Jan. 1, 2000. "Experts predict that only half (of all organizations) will be ready. I think that's overly optimistic."

The governor said he has talked to many business people and government officials.

"They don't seem to be really worried; in fact, they're not really being involved in it."

If government officials and business executives do not take the problem seriously, computers in state government might be tested and ready for the problem but a "disaster" could still happen if federal and local government computers aren't also ready, the governor said.

The problem results because older computers and data systems were programmed to recognize only two digits for a year such as "98" for 1998. When internal clocks roll over to "00" on Jan. 1, 2000, computers will not be able to process that date, shutting down operating systems or processing the digits as Jan. 1, 1900.

The year 2000 problem could paralyze business and health care systems, officials added.

Thompson said state government has been taking the year 2000 computer problems seriously for months and has begun tests to research it. But local governments and businesses are lagging, he added.

For that reason, Thompson announced:

A Blue Ribbon Commission on Year 2000 Preparedness to get local governments and businesses to take the problem more seriously, and work with them on solutions.

A year 2000 symposium on Oct. 8 for officials from school districts and local governments.

Jensen said he will appoint an Assembly task force, led by Rep. Sheryl Albers (R-Loganville), that will soon begin to study what new legal liability law should be passed because of the year 2000 problem.

The task force should have its recommendations ready early next year, said Jensen.

He said state government could be held liable if the problem cut off Medicaid benefits for someone who became seriously ill, or a utility could become liable if the glitch cut electricity to a major manufacturer.

Some states have passed laws exempting all governments and businesses from such problems, Jensen said, while others have exempted only those that made a "good faith" effort.