BILL NUMBER: SB 502	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Walters

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Title 21 (commencing with Section 99600) to the
Government Code, relating to state government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 502, as introduced, Walters. State agency Web sites:
information.
   Existing law imposes specified duties on state governmental
agencies and provides for public access to government records.
   This bill would require, by no later than January 1, 2010, each
state department and agency to develop and operate a searchable
Internet Web site, as defined. The bill would also require the
searchable Internet Web site to include specified information
relating to each expenditure of state funds, as defined, made by that
state department or agency in the most recently completed fiscal
year, the ability of the user to view information in a format that
may be downloaded and managed by the user, and the ability of users
to provide input regarding the utility of, and recommendations for,
improvements to the searchable Internet Web site.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Title 21 (commencing with Section 99600) is added to
the Government Code, to read:

      TITLE 21.  TAXPAYER TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2009


   99600.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the Taxpayer
Transparency Act of 2009.
   99601.  (a) For purposes of this title:
   (1) "Expenditure of state funds" means the expenditure or transfer
of any state appropriated or nonappropriated funds in an amount in
excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) by any department, agency,
office, or entity of state government in forms including, but not
limited to:
   (A) Grants.
   (B) Contracts.
   (C) Subcontracts.
   (D) Purchase orders.
   (E) Tax refunds, rebates, and credits.
   (F) Expenditures from the Reserve for Revenue Fluctuations.
   (2) "Searchable Internet Web site" means an Internet Web site that
allows the public to search and aggregate information described in
Section 99602.
   (b) "Expenditure of state funds" shall not include the transfer of
funds between two departments, agencies, offices, or entities of
state government, or the transfer of state or federal assistance
payments to an individual recipient or beneficiary of those
assistance payments.
   99602.  (a) No later than January 1, 2010, with assistance from
the office of the State Chief Information Officer, the Department of
Finance, and the Governor's office, each state department and agency
shall develop and operate a searchable Internet Web site, accessible
by the public at no cost, that includes:
   (1) For each expenditure of state funds, information including,
but not limited to:
   (A) The name and principal location or residence of each entity or
other recipient of the funds.
   (B) The amount of expenditure.
   (C) The type of transaction.
   (D) The identity of the department, agency, office, or other
entity of state government making the expenditure.
   (E) The budget program source for the expenditure.
   (F) A description of the purpose of the expenditure.
   (G) A description of any item purchased pursuant to the
expenditure.
   (H) Any other information deemed relevant by the Department of
Finance and the Governor's office.
   (2) The ability of the user to view information on the searchable
Internet Web site in a format that may be downloaded and managed by
the user with appropriate software.
   (3) The ability of users to provide input to the Department of
Finance regarding the utility of the searchable Internet Web site and
recommendations for improvements to the searchable Internet Web
site.
   (b) The searchable Internet Web site shall include information for
the 2008-09 fiscal year no later than January 1, 2010, and
thereafter, the searchable Internet Web site shall include
information for the most recently completed fiscal year by June 30th
each year.
   (c) Each department, agency, and entity of state government shall
fully cooperate with the Department of Finance and the Governor's
office in compiling and providing all information necessary to comply
with the requirements of this section.
   (d) Nothing in this section requires disclosure of information
deemed confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure under state
or federal law.