Rep. Gann's state agency budget transparency law takes effect

Gann's State Agency Budget Transparency Law Takes Effect

OKLAHOMA CITY – A law requiring state agency directors to certify their agency's annual budget is filed with the state Department of Libraries within the time required under state law takes effect today.

House Bill 3113, authored by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, requires agency executive directors to certify their agency is in compliance with the Oklahoma State Government Open Documents Initiative when they submit their annual agency budgets to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the Legislature.

"We found not all agencies were filing their budgets with the Department of Libraries and thereby giving the public online access, or they were woefully behind in doing so," Gann said. "If the agency head has to sign off on the process, it is more likely to not be overlooked."

The amended law says the officer shall certify the agency is in complete compliance with the requirements of Title 62 Section 34.11.3, which requires an electronic copy to be online at documents.ok.gov, and Title 65 Section 3-114, which requires hard copies to be placed in the Department of Libraries if for any reason an electronic version cannot be filed.

Gann stated requiring the certification of this process by the agency head will ensure state agencies budgets are filed for public view and access in a timely manner.

The law already requires agencies to file budgets with the director of the state's Office of Management and Enterprise Services on or before the first day of June in each year, or as soon thereafter as possible. Copies of all agency budgets also shall be made available electronically to the staff of the Joint Legislative Committee on Budget and Program Oversight.

The agency budget shall include a description of all funds available to the agency for expenditure and set out allotments requested by the agency by quarter and the entire fiscal year. The budget is to be accompanied by an organizational chart of the agency, a statement of agency mission and program objectives. The budget also shall delineate agency spending by such categories and with at least as much detail as is specified in the legislative appropriation and as prescribed by the director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Tom Gann serves District 8 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes parts of Mayes, Rogers and Wagoner counties.