ELECTRONIC OPEN ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT ACT

House Bill 4814 as enacted

Public Act 370 of 2016

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Runestad

House Committee:  Oversight and Ethics

Senate Committee:  Elections and Government Reform

Complete to 7-19-18

SUMMARY:

The bill creates a new act, the Electronic Open Access to Government Act, which took effect March 29, 2017.

The new act requires 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 information must be accessible to the public at no cost, and each page created or maintained must meet the following criteria:

·         Provide for uniformity and standardization of information across departments.

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

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

The information required to be available for each department must include:

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

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

·         A graphical organization chart that includes the major divisions or subunits and the name, position title, classified or nonclassified civil service distinction, and contact information for the supervisor of each major division or subunit, indicating the reporting relationship of the supervisors.

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

                                                                                       Legislative Analysts:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                                           Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                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.