MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The Alabama Senate has voted to consolidate the information technology operations of all state agencies under a board that could outsource services.

The Senate voted 31-0 Tuesday for the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Phil Williams of Gadsden. It would turn over the IT programs of the state Finance Department to a new Alabama Technology Authority. The authority could coordinate IT services among state agencies and could contract with private companies to provide those services. Williams says many state agencies operate their IT services like silos, and they don't use money-saving features like bulk licensing of computer programs.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.