GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 633

Short Title:        State and Local Gov. Transparency Act.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Brock (Primary Sponsor); and Krawiec.
Referred to:	Rules and Operations of the Senate.

March 30, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to make state and local governments more TRANSPARENT.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 132 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 132‑11.  State and local government transparency.

(a) Every agency of North Carolina government and its subdivisions that have an Internet Web site must post on its Web site for the current calendar or fiscal year all of the following information:

(1) The contact information, including the phone number and e‑mail address, for all elected and appointed officials, the chief administrator, the head administrator for each department, the person charged with receiving requests for public records under this Chapter, and the legislative liaison, if any.

(2) Pursuant to Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, notice of any regular or special meeting, the agenda of any regular or special meeting, and the minutes from any regular or special meeting.

(3) The procedure for requesting public records.

(4) The annual budget.

(5) The procedures required to apply for any permits, licenses, or public benefits.

(6) Any financial audit, audit schedule, or special project report, including without limitation the comprehensive annual financial report, performance audits.

(7) The current salary, as defined in G.S. 126‑23(b) of all employees.

(8) All contracts with registered lobbyists and the amount paid to each lobbyist.

(9) A detailed list of all taxes and fees imposed by the agency of North Carolina government or the political subdivision.

(10) A detailed list of all expenditures made by the agency of North Carolina government or the political subdivision.

(11) All statutes and rules governing the award of contracts.

(12) All bids and contracts for purchase in the amount of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more.

(13) A report on all incentives, whether in the form of cash, tax credits, infrastructure, or other things of value, actually given or distributed during the calendar year. The report shall be updated no later than March 1 of each year for the preceding calendar year and shall be submitted to the Local Government Commission.

(b) The information required to be posted under subsection (a) must be easily accessible and searchable.

(c) The postings required by this section are in addition to any other posting requirements required by law or ordinance.

(d) If an agency of North Carolina government or the political subdivision fails to comply with this section, the failure shall be considered a denial of access to public records and the procedures and remedies provided for in G.S. 132‑9 shall apply."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 132‑11(a), as enacted in Section 1 of this act, is rewritten to read:

"§ 132‑11.  State and local government transparency.

(a)        Every agency of North Carolina government and its subdivisions that have an Internet website must post on its website for the current calendar or fiscal year year, and the four years immediately before that calendar or fiscal year, all of the following information:

…."

SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2015. Section 2 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2016. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.