Existing law requires state departments and agencies to disclose certain information on their Internet Web sites, including their privacy policies and information related to certain of their duties.

This bill would require any state agency, as defined, that maintains or operates its own Internet Web site to post specified information regarding the number of persons it employs and its total authorized budget amount on its homepage.

Existing law requires state departments and agencies to disclose certain information on their Internet Web sites, including their privacy policies and information related to certain of their duties.

This bill would require any state agency, as defined, that maintains or operates its own Internet Web site to post specified information regarding the number of persons it employs and its total authorized budget amount on its homepage.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

Senator Bill Dodd

Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: SB Hearing Date: 4/10/2018

SUBJECT:

DIGEST: This bill requires any state agency, as defined, that maintains or operates its own Internet Web site to post specified information regarding the number of persons it employs and its total authorized budget amount on its homepage.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires state departments and agencies to disclose certain information on their Internet Web site, including information related to certain of their duties.
2. Requires state departments and agencies to enact a privacy policy and to conspicuously post its policy on its Internet Web site.
3. Defines “state agency” to mean every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board and commission. A “state agency” does not include the California State University.

This bill:

1. Requires any state agency that maintains or operates its own Internet Web site to post, in a conspicuous place on the homepage, a brief disclosure in clear, legible table form, of the total number of persons it employs, both full time and part time, its total authorized budget amount, and the sources of its findings for the current and five preceding fiscal years.
2. Defines a “state agency” to mean every state office, officer, department, division bureau, board, and commission, including the California State University.

Background

Purpose of the bill. According to the author, “agency websites provide extensive information about the breadth of oversite they’ve been given, however, the only place to find the information we are proposing to cite is within the Governor’s budget, an over 2000 page document that is not exactly easy to read. Without the knowledge of where to look for obscure budget documentation, most Californian’s would likely never be able to find such information – information needed to keep the public informed of the state’s use of tax dollars.”

Current information. The Department of Finance (DOF) currently publishes, on its Internet Web site, detailed data on the actual, approved, and estimated staffing level of each state department based on current authorized spending authority. The information is reported on an actual basis for fiscal year 2016-17 and on an authorized basis for fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19. The information is much more detailed than the requirements in this bill. It not only includes information on the overall number of employees in each department, but a breakdown of the authorized number of positions for each specific classification authorized for that state department and the authorized budget for those specific classifications.

In addition, the Governor’s Budget includes a summary of proposed changes in authorized positions for each state department. According to the DOF, the 2018-19 Governor’s Budget proposes spending of $190.3 billion in total state funds, consisting of $131.7 billion from the General Fund, $56.1 billion from special funds, and $2.5 billion from bond funds.

Prior/Related Legislation

SB 1251 (Moorlach, 2016) would have established the California Financial Transparency Act of 2016 and would have required the Legislative Analyst’s Office to create and maintain separate and dedicated Internet Web sites that list specific state financial obligations. (Held in the Senate Public Employment and Retirement Committee)

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

OPPOSITION:

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, “while limited in scope, this proposal will provide the public easier access to important information that allows them to ask informed questions about how tax dollars are spent. It should neither be difficult for taxpayers to learn simple facts about their government nor for government to post a paragraph on its homepage and update it annually.”