STATE WEBSITE:  DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

House Bill 4814 (reported from committee as H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Runestad

Committee:  Oversight and Ethics

Complete to 4-20-16

SUMMARY:

The bill would require the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB), by January 1, 2018, to include links on the state's website to function and contact information for each executive branch department and each major division or subunit within the department. 

The bill would create a new act, "the Electronic Open Access to Government Act," and would take effect 90 days after being enacted.

The information would have to be accessible to the public at no cost, and each page created or maintained would have to meet the following criteria:

o   Provide for uniformity and standardization of information across departments.

o   Use methods that are intuitive for searching, navigating, and accessing information.

o   Be designed to serve the purpose of facilitating public access to government services.

The information required to be available for each department would have to include:

o   A description of the primary functions of the department and the telephone number and electronic mail address for the public to contact the department.

o   A description of the primary functions of each major division or subunit of the department and the telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses.

o   A graphical organization chart that includes the major divisions or subunits and the name and contact information for the supervisor of each major division or subunit, indicating the reporting relationship of the supervisors.

Each department would be required to cooperate with DTMB in collecting and posting the information required under the bill.  DTMB would have to develop guidelines for the format and display of charts and other information to ensure the greatest possible standardization.  Also, DTMB would provide technical services and assistance to create websites, coordinate links, and maintain electronic connections needed to implement the new act.  Each department would have to provide quarterly updates to the required information.

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4814 will have a negligible fiscal impact for the state.  DTMB notes that the costs to ensure consistency amongst departmental organization charts and posting the charts to a website would be minimal. The bill would have no fiscal impact for local governments.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Perry Zielak

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.