Government Transparency Advisory Council; established, searchable database website established. (HB2196)

Introduced By

Del. Barbara Comstock (R-McLean)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Government Transparency Act.  Establishes a searchable database website that would allow persons to search and aggregate information including but not limited to (i) individual or specific appropriations or budget items, (ii) state agency spending and procurement data, (iii) financial disclosure statements, (iv) audit and state agency performance reports, and (v) contact information for public records access purposes. Under the bill, the searchable database website will be developed and maintained by the Department of Planning and Budget and is required to be operational by July 1, 2012. When fully operational, all data in the database would be maintained for a minimum of 10 years. The bill requires the Department to work with the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to avoid duplication of effort. The bill also establishes the Government Transparency Advisory Council to advise the Department on the practical usability of the website, considering all intended end users. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2011Committee
01/12/2011Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11103690D
01/12/2011Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/17/2011Assigned GL sub: #2 FOIA/Procurement
02/03/2011Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 0-N)
02/03/2011Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
02/03/2011Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
02/03/2011Reported from General Laws (20-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2011Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/04/2011Assigned App. sub: Technology Oversight and Government Activities
02/08/2011Left in Appropriations

Comments

Waldo Jaquith writes:

Better still, require the relevant departments to make this information available as XML, JSON, and CSV, and let the free market sort it out from there.

Valerie writes:

I think there are some shenanigans going on behind the scenes. Same happens on campaign finance reform. The bill makes it out of subcommittee only to be tabled in full committee. Makes subcommittee look good when they knew it would never make it out of committee. Same here with this bill - passing it from one committee to another to be "left."

Reminds me of a story relayed by a Senator: In summary - the locality's bill was introduced by the Senator. The Delegate of the same locality and party worked behind the scenes to kill it. Thus the locality (in the dark) thought they both tried their best but ...