BILL REQ. #:  S-5276.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/12/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to transparency in state expenditures; adding a new section to chapter 44.48 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.88 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The intent of the legislature is to make state revenue and expenditure data as open, transparent, and publicly accessible as possible. Increasing the ease of public access to state budget data, particularly where the data are currently available from disparate internal government sources but are difficult for the public to collect and efficiently aggregate, significantly contributes to governmental accountability, public participation, agency efficiency, and open government.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 44.48 RCW to read as follows:
     By January 1, 2009, in collaboration with the office of financial management, using existing databases and structures currently shared, the office of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee shall establish and make available to the public a state expenditure information web site. The state expenditure information web site shall provide access to current budget data, access to current accounting data for budgeted expenditures and staff, and access to historical data. At a minimum, the web site will provide access or links to the following information as data are available:
     (1) State expenditures by fund or account;
     (2) State expenditures by agency, program, and subprogram;
     (3) State revenues by major source and source;
     (4) State expenditures by object and subobject;
     (5) State agency workloads, caseloads, and performance measures; and
     (6) State agency budget data by activity.
     "State agency," as used in this section, includes every state agency, office, board, commission, or institution of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches, including institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.88 RCW to read as follows:
     The office of financial management, in conjunction with the public disclosure commission, shall establish a database that links (1) the database of state agency contracts for personal services and purchased services required to be filed with the office of financial management under chapter 39.29 RCW, and (2) the database of campaign contributions required to be reported to the public disclosure commission under chapter 42.17 RCW. The database established under this section shall be accessible to the public, without charge, on the internet.