State agency websites

From Sunshine Review

Below is how we would like to see the statewide agencies report for their Ten-Point Transparency Checklist.

Below is a sample of the transparency checklist. If you would like to fill one of these out for your state do the following:

1. Log in to your Sunshine Review Account. This will allow you to edit pages.
2. Come to this article and press the edit tab at the top of the article. This will allow you to see the wiki coding for the article.
3. Copy the information below into your state. Fill out {{Yes}} or {{No}} for the 10 transparency checkpoint. Once you have a total (ex. 3/10 or 7/10) to the heading of the checklist and type {{Rating#}}.
   1. The number in the rating section should be the number of government entities that "pass" the list.

More information

Below you will see different sections of the 10 point list spelled out in more detail. These sections define what qualifies as a "passing" grade for the checklist. A statewide office or agency must meet all of the requirements in order to get a passing grade for the checklist.

In these sections you can link to any information that is currently available at the government office or agency website.

• For example, for the Budget section if only the current Budget is listed then place a link to it in that section. Then note that citizens are denied looking at past budgets in order to compare performance.
• Also make sure to date when you fill out the section so that users know how up to date the list will be. You can do that by typing {{date|April 30, 2008}} at the beginning of the section.
• If a url is available for a state website please link to it in that section.
• If there is a volunteer that uses the Freedom of Information Act to collect the data we ask to make the government transparent please link to it in that section but do not give the state a passing grade. Passing grade are only if the government makes the information readily available--no exceptions.

[edit] Statewide checklist

Below is the topics that should be addressed for a statewide open government.

• A good source for state websites is: State & Local Government on the Net

Budget Usability {{{Usability}}} Elected Officials Administrative Officials Ethics Audits Contracts Lobbying Public records Taxes

[edit] Budget

To receive a point for the budget, state governments must meet the following criteria:

• All budgets, current and historic, available online.
• All appropriations bills posted online at least one week before a vote.
• Graphs showing spending and revenue over time.
• Check Register. Must include:

1. 1. The amount of the payment
   2. Date
   3. Check number
   4. To whom the payment was made (including the address)
   5. What it was for
   6. Budgetary authority for the expenditure
   7. Functional expenditure category
   8. Sources of funds
   9. Links to the relevant contracts under which the payment was made

[edit] Usability

The following conditions must be met to receive a point at the state level.

• Consistent use of website domains
• Searchable
• Present the information to the user in a clear and concise way. Websites are written in "plain English" instead of legal jargon.
• Has a consistent and easy-to-understand user interface. Especially in regards to how the website is navigated and content is organized.
• Does not require tedious plug-in downloads

[edit] Elected officials

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Contact information for all elected officials
• Terms of office and date of next election
• Voting record
• Voter registration (Party Registration)
• Conflict of interest agreement (most states require employees to disclose potential conflicts of interest but they don't necessarily make the forms available)
• Committee appointments

[edit] Administrative officials

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Contact information for all appointed and elected administrators.
• Terms of office.
• Governing boards and by laws for agencies.
• Voter registration.
• Conflict of interest agreement (most states require employees to disclose potential conflicts of interest but they don't necessarily make the forms available.

[edit] Ethics

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Must have an ethics commission and guidelines for ethical behavior of officials
• Process for reporting ethics violations available on web site.
• Investigations and results of investigations posted

[edit] Audits (Financial/Performance)

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Regular audits of state agencies and departments, including the Governor and the Assembly.
• Audit results posted online
• Scheduled financial audits posted online
• Performance audits for state programs

[edit] Contracts

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Rules governing contracts posted online
• Bids and contracts for purchases over $10,000 must be posted online
• Vendor campaign contributions posted with contract

[edit] Lobbying/Advocacy

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Disclosure of state-paid lobbying activity
• Database of registered lobbyists
• Agency lobbying contracts posted online
• All grants given to non-profit organizations with reason for the grant and a contact in the organization responsible for oversight

[edit] FOIA

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• FOIA contact for every state agency/department in one central location
• Department/Agency FOIA officer posted on Department homepage
• Annual compliance survey performed measuring, # of FOIAs submitted, # Fulfilled, Average time for compliance, and reasons for denials.

[edit] Taxes

The following conditions must be met to receive a point:

• Central location for all tax information, including state "fees" such as drivers' licenses.
• Tax documents for all elected officials
• Each agency discloses all sources of revenue