Evaluation of Alaska state website

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Contents

State.ak.us is the website for the state of Alaska.

[edit] Website evaluation

[edit] The good

  • Site has a search function and is fairly user friendly.
  • Budget is published.[1]
  • State checkbook is available online.[2]
  • Financial audits are published.[3]
  • Elected officials are listed with contact information under respective department.[4]
  • Administrative officials are listed with contact information in a searchable database.[5]
  • State tax information is posted.[6]
  • State Union contracts are published.[7]
  • Contains directory of registered lobbyists.[8]

[edit] The bad

  • Bids and current state contracts are not available.
  • Includes information on executive branch ethics, but does not appear to provide information on a state ethics program.[9]
  • Does not include information on how to make public record requests under the Alaska Public Records Act.
  • Does not provide information on state paid lobbying and agency lobbying contracts.

[edit] Other state websites

[edit] Alaska Check Register Online

See also: Alaska Check Register Online

The Alaska Check Register is an online database of state expenditures that was launched in February 2008.Stating, "Alaskans deserve open, transparent government," Governor Sarah Palin announced that all state expenditures over $1,000 would be available online. It is available at the Alaska Department of Administration website, Division of Finance.

Anyone is able to go to the site and browse the state's check register in both pdf and excel formats, with information organized by department, payee, and type of expense. The first version did not include search capabilities, but plans were proposed to expand it. Currently, the site includes information on every payee that received over $1,000, including their name, location, and what the payment was for. Information that may result in issues of confidentiality, such as employee salaries, has not been posted, but they are attempting to figure a solution to this.[10][11]

[edit] Alaska State Legislature

See also: Alaska Legislature

The Alaska State Legislature website offers a simple layout that provides for easy navigation. The site includes search tools for finding filed legislation, as well as information about the state's House, Senate and session laws.[12]

Each state Senator and Representative is listed with additional details including contact information, residency, occupation, education, political career and interests. However, profiles do not include links to legislation filed or supported by each legislator.[13][14]

However, for filed bills, visitors to the site can use the search tool to search either by keyword or bill number. Additionally the state legislature website divides bills by: those awaiting action, governor's vetoes, passed legislation, bills in committee, sponsor summary, requestor summary and subject summary.[15]

[edit] Transparency legislation

Main article: Alaska transparency legislation and transparency headlines

[edit] 2009

  • House Bill 42 [16] , proposed by Rep. Bob Lynn, would establish a Legislative Study Group to prepare a report on the possibility of creating an immediate online state political campaign reporting system. Lynn says: "It's past time to bring political campaign disclosure into the 21st century." [17]

[edit] 2008

  • Alaska Check Register Online includes state payment information for expenditures over $1,000. The checkbook was launched in February 2008. The first version did not include search capabilities, but plans were proposed to expand it. Currently, the site includes information on every payee that received over $1,000, including their name, location, and what the payment was for. Information that may result in issues of confidentiality, such as employee salaries, has not been posted, but they are attempting to figure a solution to this.[11]

[edit] Transparency advocates

See also: Alaska transparency advocates

[edit] Organizations

  • Alaska FOI Coalition, also known as the Alaska Freedom of Information Coalition, is a member of the National FOI Coalition. The organization does not have a website.[18][19]
    • National FOI Coalition is a national non-profit that describes itself as an organization that "protects the public's right to oversee its government." According to the organization they work towards this goal by:[20]
      • Starting up and support citizen-driven state FOI and First Amendment organizations.
      • Foster the exchange of information through networking and its annual conference.
      • Providing a collective voice for state FOI groups at the national level.
      • Assisting fundraising efforts of state organizations, and
      • Exploring issues and making recommendations for individual state actions or collective national action.

[edit] Blogs

See also: Alaska blogs

[edit] External links

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Budget
  2. ↑ Checkbook Online
  3. ↑ Financial Reports
  4. ↑ Departments
  5. ↑ Employee Search
  6. ↑ Taxes
  7. ↑ Union Contracts
  8. ↑ Lobbying
  9. ↑ Exec. Branch Ethics
  10. ↑ News Miner,"State Checkbook Goes Online," February 6, 2008
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Alaska Department of Administration Division of Finance,"Checkbook Online," retrieved March 14, 2010
  12. ↑ Alaska Legislature,"Main page: Welcome to the Alaska State Legislature," retrieved March 14, 2010
  13. ↑ Alaska Legislature,"Senate," retrieved March 14, 2010
  14. ↑ Alaska Legislature,"House of Representatives," retrieved March 14, 2010
  15. ↑ Alaska Legislature,"Bills and Laws," retrieved March 14, 2010
  16. ↑ Text and Status of HB42
  17. ↑ Anchorage Daily News,"Online campaign reporting offers instant exposure," January 11, 2009
  18. ↑ Citizens for Ethics,"Alaska Freedom of Information Coalition," retrieved March 14, 2010
  19. ↑ National Freedom of Information Coalition,"Alaska FOI Resources," retrieved March 14, 2010
  20. ↑ National Freedom of Information Coalition,"About NFOIC," retrieved March 14, 2010
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