s_lg_2016a_2016-03-22t14:03:00z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/22/2016

02:03 PM -- HB 16-1230



The chair announced that Senator Cooke, sponsor for House Bill 16-1230 concerning the Transparency Online Project and county information, was in another committee presenting a bill and that the committee will consider testimony in Senator Cooke's absence.



The reengrossed HB 16-1230 requires counties to provide the state Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a copy of the county's adopted budget no later than 30 days after the fiscal year begins, starting January 1, 2018. This bill also requires counties to provide revenue and expenditure data to the CIO no later than 30 days after their year-end financial audit is completed, starting January 1, 2017. This data is to be included in the State Transparency Online Project site (TOPS) and must be segmented by agency and provided in an electronic format approved by the CIO so it can be added to TOPS. A county does not need to provide revenue and expenditure data if such data is posted on its website. Instead, the county is required to notify the CIO that it is exempt and the CIO will provide a link to the county data in TOPS. If a county fails to provide this data within 90 days of the deadline, the Department of Local Affairs will consider this to be an adverse factor when making local government severance grant awards. The CIO is also required to archive past county revenue and expenditures data.



02:05 PM



The committee recessed.



02:07 PM



The committee returned from recess. The following persons testified on the bill:



02:08 PM -- Jack Arrowsmith, representing the Statewide Internet Portal Authority, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a handout concerning Utah transparency statics for local governments that would be similar to those required by HB 16-1230 (Attachment A). He also responded to questions from the committee about the bill and TOPS.



160322 AttachA.pdf



02:14 PM -- Fred Sargeson, Colorado Interactive, explained that his company operates TOPS and responded to questions from the committee about TOPS.



02:16 PM -- Gini Pingenot, Colorado Counties, Inc., spoke in support of the bill and identified financial and other information about counties that is currently available online. She also responded to questions from the committee about the bill and TOPS.



02:22 PM



The chair closed testimony and Senator Cooke closed his remarks on the bill.

02:24 PM



The committee adjourned.