81R10523 EAH-F

By: Paxton H.B. No. 2743

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the availability of certain county financial information on certain counties' Internet websites.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 112, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 112.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 112.011. ELECTRONIC CHECKING ACCOUNT TRANSACTION REGISTER. (a) This section applies only to a county with a population of 50,000 or more.

(b) The commissioners court of a county shall maintain the transaction register for the county's checking account in a searchable electronic spreadsheet format, such as a portable document format (PDF) or similar file type, in which the transaction register is readily available for purposes of Subsections (d) and (e). Except as provided by Subsection (c), the electronic checking account transaction register must include for each check written from a county checking account:

(1) the transaction amount;

(2) the name of the payee; and

(3) a statement of the purpose of the expenditure for which the check was written.

(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), beginning September 1, 2009, a county's electronic checking account transaction register must contain the information required by Subsections (b)(1) and (2) for each check dated on or after August 1, 2009. Beginning September 1, 2010, a county's electronic checking account transaction register must contain the information required by Subsections (b)(1) through (3) for each check dated on or after August 1, 2010. This subsection expires October 1, 2010.

(c) A county may not include in the county's electronic checking account transaction register a check issued to a county employee in payment of:

(1) salary, wages, or an employment stipend; or

(2) a workers' compensation income benefit, medical benefit, death benefit, or burial benefit that is issued by a county operating as a self-insurer under Chapter 504, Labor Code.

(d) A county shall prominently post the electronic checking account transaction register at all times on the county's Internet website for viewing and downloading by interested persons.

(e) A county shall share data from the electronic checking account transaction register with any interested person who requests the data.

(f) A county shall:

(1) update the electronic checking account transaction register at least once each month, not later than the 30th day after the closing date of the most recent monthly statement for the checking account; and

(2) maintain each transaction or listing in the electronic checking account transaction register on the county's Internet website until the second anniversary of the date of the transaction or listing.

(g) The commissioners court of a county may consult with the comptroller in developing an electronic checking account transaction register under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.