Texas House Bill HB284

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

• Filed: 12/14/12

Caption

Relating to the availability of certain school district financial information on districts' Internet websites.

Impact

This bill directly impacts state education laws by establishing specific guidelines on how school districts must report and disclose their financial transactions. The requirement to post the transaction register online and update it regularly ensures that stakeholders, including parents, taxpayers, and other interested parties, can easily access information about how school districts are spending their funds. This accountability measure aims to foster trust between school officials and the community regarding financial management.

Summary

House Bill 284 introduces new requirements for school districts in Texas related to the transparency of financial transactions. Specifically, it mandates that school districts maintain an electronic checking account transaction register that must be readily accessible in a searchable PDF format on their official websites. The intent behind this bill is to enhance public access to school district financial information, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

Contention

While the bill seeks to enhance transparency, there are potential points of contention around the additional administrative burden it may place on smaller school districts with limited resources. Notably, the requirement to publish a transaction register might be seen as a challenge for districts with fewer than 500 students, although these smaller entities are exempt from the requirement. Critics may argue that the bill does not sufficiently consider the unique circumstances of smaller districts and their capacity to comply with these financial reporting protocols.