Bill > A1552

Introduced Session

This bill is entitled the "Transparency in Government Act". The bill provides for the creation of a single, searchable Internet State public finance website that retains and displays data and information on the State's annual revenues, expenditures, and total bonded indebtedness. With the assistance of the Chief Technology Officer in the Office of Information Technology, this bill directs the State Treasurer to make accessible, within six full months following the bill's enactment, a State public finance website. The bill directs the Treasurer to make the State public finance website accessible to the public free of charge. The bill requires the State public finance website to make information accessible to the public on contractual service purchases, salaries and wages, gifts, grants, and bonded obligations. The bill stipulates that data and information posted on the State public finance website is subject to periodic updates, but any data or information posted on the website is not subject to removal. The bill further provides that all data and information that is available in the central accounting and State payroll systems shall be made available on the public finance website as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The bill prohibits the posting of any data that may be deemed private, personal, or confidential by State or federal law. To facilitate the organization, development, and maintenance of the State public finance website, this bill establishes the Public Finance Transparency Committee within the Department of the Treasury. In addition to the State Treasurer, the 13-member committee is comprised of: (1) the Chief Technology Officer; (2) the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting; (3) two cabinet-level officers appointed by the Governor; (4) four public members; and (5) four members of the Legislature. With the ability to hold meetings, convene hearings, and publish reports, the committee has the express authority to advise, consult, and coordinate with the Treasurer and Chief Technology Officer to improve and expand upon the scope, content, and format of the State public finance website.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Joe Lagana (D)*,  Paul Moriarty (D)*,  Troy Singleton (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Jay Webber (R)*,  Arthur Barclay (D),  Chris Brown (R),  Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D),  Craig Coughlin (D),  Joe Danielsen (D),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Eric Houghtaling (D),  Vincent Mazzeo (D),  John McKeon (D),  Nancy Muñoz (R),  Elizabeth Muoio (D),  Declan O'Scanlon (R),  Erik Peterson (R),  Gail Phoebus (R),  David Rible (R),  Scott Rumana (R),  Parker Space (R),  David Wolfe (R), 

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 11/03/2016)