Gov. Roy L. Schneider is asking the Legislature to approve a $32.4 million loan for a Y2K Compliance Project. Scheneider said his timing is dictated by the urgent need to upgrade the government's computer system to avoid potential disaster, according to media reports. Among the agencies that would shut down without the massive computer upgrade: hospitals, the Internal Revenue Bureau and the Finance Department.
Senate President Lorraine L. Berry said she received the request and assigned it a bill number. Berry expressed some concerns, including how the money would be spent and why only one company is slated to get the contract. The Daily News quoted Schneider as saying Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and IBM Corp. Jointly submitted loan proposals with terms of seven years for IBM and 10 for Banco Popular.
"I personally don't see it being acted upon in this Legislature," Berry said. She also said the Turnbull administration should have some say before action is taken.