HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2058

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 Passed House:

April 27, 2013

Title: An act relating to transparency in enacted state capital and transportation budget appropriations and expenditures.

Brief Description: Requiring transparency in enacted state capital and transportation budget appropriations and expenditures.

Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Riccelli and Bergquist.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

None.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/27/13, 92-1.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Makes capital and transportation project appropriation and expenditure data publicly available on a website and searchable by legislative district, county, and agency project identifier.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

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 revenues, expenditures, receipts, and disbursements, as well as statewide budget information.

The Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee was established in 1977 to be the Legislature's independent source of information and technology. The LEAP Committee provides fiscal information and technology for developing budgets and communicating budget decisions, and tracking revenue, expenditure, and staffing activity.

In 2008 the Legislature directed the OFM to make publicly available a state expenditure information website 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 major source; (4) state expenditures by object and subobject; (5) state agency workloads, caseloads, and performance measurements, and recent performance audits; and (6) state agency budget data by activity. This information is available on LEAP's "Washington State Fiscal Information" website and must be updated as fiscal year data become available.

Summary of Bill:

By January 1, 2014, current and future capital project and transportation project investments must be coded with geographic information that will permit the public to search and identify appropriation and expenditure data by legislative district, county, and agency project identifier.

The LEAP Committee must use existing resources to meet these requirements and update the website. The website must be easy to use, contain current and readily available data, and allow for review and analysis by the public. The LEAP Committee must test the website with potential users to ensure its accessibility and ease of comprehension.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.