2016 -- S 2440

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LC004322

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET- CITIZENS' BUDGET REPORT

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Nesselbush, Satchell, Raptakis, and Miller

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     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' budget report. – Beginning with the state fiscal year 2017 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 to be known as the "citizens' budget report." The citizens' budget report shall be in a

form and substance that is easily readable and understandable by the general public. The citizens'

budget report 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' budget report 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 budget report 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 report.

     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- CITIZENS' BUDGET REPORT

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

budget, to be known as the "Citizens' budget report," that is easily readable and understandable by

the general public.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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