81R10523 EAH-F
By: Paxton H.B. No. 2743
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the availability of certain county financial
information on certain counties' Internet websites.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 112, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 112.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 112.011. ELECTRONIC CHECKING ACCOUNT TRANSACTION
REGISTER. (a) This section applies only to a county with a
population of 50,000 or more.
(b) The commissioners court of a county shall maintain the
transaction register for the county's checking account in a
searchable electronic spreadsheet format, such as a portable
document format (PDF) or similar file type, in which the
transaction register is readily available for purposes of
Subsections (d) and (e). Except as provided by Subsection (c), the
electronic checking account transaction register must include for
each check written from a county checking account:
(1) the transaction amount;
(2) the name of the payee; and
(3) a statement of the purpose of the expenditure for
which the check was written.
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), beginning September
1, 2009, a county's electronic checking account transaction
register must contain the information required by Subsections
(b)(1) and (2) for each check dated on or after August 1, 2009.
Beginning September 1, 2010, a county's electronic checking account
transaction register must contain the information required by
Subsections (b)(1) through (3) for each check dated on or after
August 1, 2010. This subsection expires October 1, 2010.
(c) A county may not include in the county's electronic
checking account transaction register a check issued to a county
employee in payment of:
(1) salary, wages, or an employment stipend; or
(2) a workers' compensation income benefit, medical
benefit, death benefit, or burial benefit that is issued by a county
operating as a self-insurer under Chapter 504, Labor Code.
(d) A county shall prominently post the electronic checking
account transaction register at all times on the county's Internet
website for viewing and downloading by interested persons.
(e) A county shall share data from the electronic checking
account transaction register with any interested person who
requests the data.
(f) A county shall:
(1) update the electronic checking account
transaction register at least once each month, not later than the
30th day after the closing date of the most recent monthly statement
for the checking account; and
(2) maintain each transaction or listing in the
electronic checking account transaction register on the county's
Internet website until the second anniversary of the date of the
transaction or listing.
(g) The commissioners court of a county may consult with the
comptroller in developing an electronic checking account
transaction register under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.