2015 -- S 0317 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Felag, DiPalma, Picard, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Government Oversight

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 35-3 of the General Laws entitled "State Budget" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     35-3-28. Legislative findings. -- (a) The general assembly finds that:

     (1) The foundation of democracy is based on a government's accountability to its

citizenry;

     (2) Enhancing government transparency enhances the democratic process; and

     (3) As such, state government has the responsibility to provide easily understandable and

accessible information about the state's annual budget to its citizens.

     (b) Citizens' guide to the state budget. – Beginning with the state fiscal year 2016 budget

as enacted, the state budget office, with input from the secretary of state's office on the language,

form and presentation used, shall produce an annual citizens' guide to the state budget revenue

and expenditures. The citizens' guide shall be in a form and substance that is easily readable and

understandable by the general public. The citizens' guide shall include data on each department's

purpose and populations served; and where available, may include performance measures over

time, depicted in a graphic format. The citizens' guide to the state budget shall be produced and

released on the secretary of state's website no later than sixty (60) days after the public release of

the annual state budget office "Budget as Enacted" report. The citizen's guide need only be

prepared in an online or electronic format, and neither the state budget office nor the secretary of

state's office shall be required to produce or distribute a paper or hard copy of the guide.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

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     This act would require the state budget office to produce a citizens' guide to the state

budget that is easily readable and understandable by the general public.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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