SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6818
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Amended by House, March 7, 2008
Title: An act relating to transparency in state expenditures.
Brief Description: Promoting transparency in state expenditures.
Sponsors: Senators Oemig, Brandland, Tom, Zarelli, Kastama, Weinstein, Kilmer, Keiser and Kohl-Welles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/7/08, 2/12/08 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/16/08, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6818 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Hatfield, Hewitt, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Roach and Rockefeller.
Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)
Background: Under the State Budget and Accounting Act, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) maintains a comprehensive financial accounting and reporting system for all agencies of state government. This system accounts for all state agency revenues, expenditures, receipts, and disbursements, as well as statewide budget information.
Summary of Bill: By January 1, 2009, the Office of Financial Management is directed to make publicly available a state expenditure information web site that contains for the prior fiscal year: (1) state expenditures by fund or account; (2) expenditures by agency, program, and subprogram; (3) state revenues by source; (4) state expenditures by budget object and subobject; and (5) state agency workloads, caseloads, and performance measurements.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: The public's business should be made more accessible and visible by making budget and expenditure data available to the public via the internet. Public websites to increase budget transparency are being created in many states. There is strong bipartisan support for this, and it can be done economically. Such a database should include information on performance measures and recipients of state contracts and grants.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Brian Sonntag, State Auditor; Jason Mercier, Washington Policy Center; Bob Williams, Evergreen Freedom Foundation.
House Amendment(s): The Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee is required to establish a public website, for each proposed or adopted budget, that describes examples of K-12 programs and service levels funded under the act, including estimated class sizes, teachers' salaries, and other data.