Bill Text: TX HB317 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of county databases containing information on county expenditures.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-16 - Left pending in committee [HB317 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB317-Introduced.html

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By: Keough H.B. No. 317

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of county databases containing information
on county expenditures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the Transparency in
Local Government Act.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 112, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 112.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 112.011. SEARCHABLE COUNTY EXPENDITURE DATABASE. (a)
This section applies to a county with a population of 45,000 or
more.
(b) The commissioners court of a county shall establish and
post on the Internet a database of county expenditures that is
electronically searchable by the public except as provided by
Subsection (d). The database must include:
(1) the amount, date, payor, and payee of
expenditures; and
(2) a listing of county expenditures by:
(A) object of expense with links to the warrant
or check register level; and
(B) to the extent maintained by county accounting
systems in a reportable format, class and item levels.
(c) To the extent possible, the county shall present
information in the database established under this section in a
manner that is searchable and intuitive to users. The county shall
enhance and organize the presentation of the information through
the use of graphical representations, such as pie charts, as the
county considers appropriate. At a minimum, the database must
allow users to:
(1) search and aggregate county funding by any element
of the information;
(2) ascertain through a single search the total amount
of county funding awarded to a person by the county; and
(3) download information yielded by a search of the
database.
(d) The county may not allow public access under this
section to a payee's address, except that the county may allow
public access under this section to information identifying the
county in which the payee is located.
(e) The county may not charge a fee to the public to access
the database.
SECTION 3. Section 112.011, Local Government Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to expenditures made on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.