Amend CSSB 1 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered ARTICLE to the bill and renumbering subsequent ARTICLES and SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
ARTICLE ____. INTERNET ACCESS TO CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SECTION ____.01. Subchapter A, Chapter 44, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 44.0031 to read as follows:
Sec. 44.0031. INTERNET ACCESS TO FINANCIAL DATA. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a school district shall post on the district's Internet website or on an Internet website hosted by the district's business or financial services department for viewing by interested persons a copy of the district's:
(1) annual budget;
(2) end-of-year financial report; and
(3) checking account transaction register.
(b) A school district may not include in the district's checking account transaction register under Subsection (a)(3) a check issued to a district employee in payment of salary, wages, or an employment stipend.
(c) A school district may not post any information protected by state or federal law regarding confidentiality of health or education records.
(d) The superintendent and chief financial officer of a school district shall jointly notify the commissioner when the financial data required under Subsection (a) is available to interested persons. The notification must include information regarding the current and expected costs associated with implementing and maintaining the requirements of this section.
(e) If a school district is unable to post all or part of the financial data required under Subsection (a), the superintendent and chief financial officer of the school district shall jointly submit a letter to the commissioner explaining why the district is unable to post the financial data, including the results of any applicable cost analysis performed by or for the district.
SECTION ____.02. This article takes effect January 1, 2012.