(SitNews) - The Alaska Online Checkbook Act became law recently. Last legislative session, Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), passed unanimously in both chambers of the legislature. Senate Bill 25 establishes a searchable online database so the public can easily view details on state government spending and revenues. 

A House companion bill was sponsored by Representative George Rauscher (R - Sutton). Senate Bill 25 received bipartisan support from twenty-nine members of the House and Senate who signed on as co-sponsors and was strongly urged for passage by organizations like the Alaska Public Interest Research Group and Americans for Prosperity - Alaska. Governor Dunleavy did not sign or veto the bill, so under a timeframe set by the Alaska Constitution, it became law automatically without his signature.

In 2019, the Frontier Group, an organization that provides information and ideas to help citizens build a cleaner, healthier, and more democratic America, ranked Alaska 45th in the nation, issuing Alaska an “F” grade on making public finance data readily available to the public. 

“Alaskans have a right to know how their government is spending public funds. Alaska’s current system is too cumbersome and ineffective for Alaskans to navigate and fails at establishing true transparency,” said Sen. Wielechowski.

All states make information on state expenditures and revenues available online to varying degrees, but Alaska does not have a central location where the data is maintained. Currently, the State of Alaska provides data in various spreadsheets and webpages on government websites, and there were instances when financial data updates were inconsistent, and webpages were periodically inaccessible. Senate Bill 25 expands the amount of online financial information and requires its continual availability from a single searchable website.

“So many people in my district and around the state have asked for transparency and accountability in government spending. This bill requires the state to allow people to view every penny it spends,” said Rep. Rauscher. “I was pleased to be involved with passing this important piece of legislation and am grateful to my colleagues for their support this year.”

The State of Alaska receives thousands of records requests every year under the Alaska Public Records Act. Senate Bill 25 provides the potential for state savings in staff time and resources by establishing the Online Checkbook for the public’s direct access.

“The Online Checkbook is an important step to making government spending more transparent and easier for the public to find,” said Sen. Wielechowski. “It is a tool in the hands of Alaskans to help them better understand state operations, promote government accountability, and increase faith in government.”

The Department of Administration is required to have the Online Checkbook available by October 1, 2023.

Edited By: Mary Kauffman, SitNews



Source of News:

Alaska Senate Democrats
www.akleg.gov

 

 

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