State contract transparency approved

Lawmakers gave final approval May 29 to a bill intended to increase transparency in the expenditure of state funds.

LB429, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford, requires the state to provide access to contract information via the Internet.

The bill requires that the state treasurer’s website include a link to the state Department of Administrative Services website, beginning July 1, 2014, which will contain a searchable database of all active contracts that are the basis for an expenditure of state funds.

All agencies and departments of the state will be required to provide DAS an electronic copy of contracts that are active on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

Exempted from the bill are references to all subcontracts and contracts entered into by the following agencies as letters of agreement for services to a specifically named individual:
• the state Department of Health and Human Services;
• the University of Nebraska or any state college; and
• the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Also exempt are contracts entered into by the state Energy Office to provide financing from the Dollar and Energy Saving Loan program and for employment contracts with any agency, board, commission or department of the state.

Agencies will be allowed to redact certain information, such as:
• a social security number;
• federal identification number;
• protected public health information;
• information that may be withheld under public records law; or
• any information that is confidential under state or federal law.

The bill passed on a 43-0 vote.