STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAY WEBBER
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Peterson, Assemblywoman N.Munoz, Assemblymen Coughlin, Danielsen, Assemblywomen Dunn and Swift
SYNOPSIS
Transparency in Government Act; provides for establishment of State public finance website.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act providing for the establishment of a State public finance website and designated as the Transparency in Government Act, supplementing chapter 18A of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Transparency in Government Act.
2. As used in this act:
"Chief Technology Officer" means the person appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Office of Information Technology. Public Finance Transparency Committee means the committee established pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
Searchable website means an Internet website that allows the general public to search and aggregate data and information identified in section 3 of this act. The term shall include requirements that the website offer the general public the ability to search and display data, and ascertain the total amounts of: (1) revenues and expenditures of funds established within the State treasury; (2) compensation paid to public employees of State agencies; and (3) bond debt as specified in this act, in an aggregate or summary form in a manner determined by the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer and the Public Finance Transparency Committee.
State agency or agency means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission, or other instrumentality within or created by such principal department; the Legislature of the State and any office, board, bureau, or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch of State Government; the Judiciary of the State and any office, board, bureau, or commission within or created by the Judicial Branch of State Government; and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality, or agency.
3. a. The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer, shall design, develop, and maintain a single, searchable Internet website that is accessible to the general public without charge and that includes data and information on:
(1) annual State agency expenditures, as determined by the State Treasurer and as available within the central accounting system and State payroll system, which shall include but not be limited to:
(a) disbursements by a State agency from funds established within the State treasury;
(b) bond debt services including, but not limited to, amounts of bond debt or interest paid and sources of funds for bond issues;
(c) salaries and wages including, but not limited to, compensation paid to employees of State agencies;
(d) contractual service purchases including, but not limited to, amounts paid to vendors;
(e) commodity purchases including, but not limited to, amounts paid to vendors;
(f) capital outlay and improvements including, but not limited to, amounts paid to vendors;
(g) aid to local units of government including, but not limited to, amounts paid to individual units of local government for aid programs; and
(h) additional forms of assistance and benefits deemed relevant by the State Treasurer.
(2) annual State revenues, as determined by the State Treasurer and as available within the central accounting system, which shall include but not be limited to:
(a) receipts and deposits by any State agency into funds established within the State treasury;
(b) taxes including, but not limited to, compulsory contributions imposed by the State for the purpose of financing services;
(c) agency earnings including, but not limited to, amounts collected by each agency for merchandise sold, services performed, licenses, and permits issued, or regulation;
(d) revenue for the use of money and property including, but not limited to, amounts received for compensation for the use of State-owned money and property;
(e) gifts, donations, and federal grants including, but not limited to, amounts received from public and private entities to aid in support of a specific function or other governmental activity;
(f) other revenue including, but not limited to, receipts not classified elsewhere; and
(g) non-revenue receipts including, but not limited to, all receipts that do not constitute revenue.
(3) annual State bonded indebtedness, as determined by the State Treasurer and as available within the central accounting system, which shall include but not be limited to:
(a) amount of the total original obligation stated in terms of principal and interest;
(b) term of the obligation;
(c) source of funding for repayment of the obligation;
(d) amounts of principal and interest previously paid to reduce the obligation;
(e) remaining balance of the obligation;
(f) data and information related to refinancing of the obligation; and
(g) cited statutory or constitutional authority to issue such bonds.
(4) any other data or information specified by the State Treasurer after consulting with and seeking the advice of the Chief Technology Officer and the Public Finance Transparency Committee.
b. (1) The public finance website shall include all data and information enumerated in subsection a. of this section for fiscal year 2000 and each fiscal year thereafter. Such data and information posted on the website may be periodically updated, but shall not be subject to removal.
(2) All data and information that is available in the central accounting and State payroll systems shall be made available on the public finance website as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
(3) The State Treasurer shall develop policies and procedures, in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to make data and information available from any other source.
(4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the State Treasurer shall not be required to provide data and information on the public finance website that is not available in the central accounting system and the