On the right hand of the home page, you can select your state and find out information relating to transparency developments in your state. I selected Maryland and found out the following:
The Maryland General Assembly voted during the 2008 legislative session to create an online searchable database for government expenditures.
State Spending Transparency Efforts
Website:
To be developed and in operation by January 1, 2009.
Legal Authority:
On May 22, 2008 Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law HB 358 sponsored by Del. Warren Miller (R-Annapolis.)
Vote Margin:
House: 137 : 0
Senate: 47 : 30
Fiscal Note:
Available here.
Agency Tasked With Implementation:
Department of Information Technology
45 Calvert Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
300-301 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Toll Free: 877.634.6361
E-mail: ServiceDesk@doit.state.md.us
Timeline:
- The FY 2008 fiscal data has been extracted per the specifications outlined for the first phase of the legislation. The public-facing website required by the law is to be launched by January 1, 2009 and is currently under construction.
- For the second phase of hte legislation, the department is to utilize the services of an outside expert to conduct a feasibility study to broaden the information included in the website. A reportu is due to the General Assembly on or before June 30, 2010.
Covered Expenditures:
- state payment data, no further specifications for phase one.
- Phase two examines the feasibility of including all state awards over the amount of $25,000 including grants, subgrants, loans, awards, cooperative agreements, and other forms of financial assistance, as well as contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders and other payments.
Required Information:
"May include":
- Name of entity receiveing an award and, if applicable, the parent entity of the recipient;
- amount of the award;
- transaction type;
- name of agency making the award;
- budget program fund source;
- descriptive purpose of each funding action or State award;
- location of entity receiving award;
- any other information specified by the Department.
Required information for phase two contingent on findings of study.
Exempt Information:
- Information that is confidential under state or federal law;
- information about recipients of aggregate payments by the state of less than $25,000 in a fiscal year;
- information about state employees and compensation;
- state retirees and information on their retirement allowance.
Data Format:
The website must be created in accordance with Sec. 3 of HB 358 in a manner "that displays and searches state payment data."
Expenditure Document Included?
Not required.
Salary Information Included?
No.
Previous Levels of Spending Transparency
The Department of Budget and Management hosts a Contract Library.
Local Spending Transparency Efforts
Howard County, Maryland in March 2008 passed legislation sponsored by Council member Greg Fox that mandates the creation of an online database for county expenditures including among other things grants, contracts, loans, awards, purchase orders and other forms of financial assistance. However, county awards of less than $30,000 are not included.
I have not been able to find the new website, so I sent an email message to ServiceDesk@doit.state.md.us.
Hello,
What is the URL for the new transparency website that was scheduled to be launched and available to the public no later then January 1, 2009 according to HB 358?
Thank You
links:
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