§ 5-116. Howard County Public Schools Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

   (a) Definitions. --

   (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   (2) (i) "Payee" means any party who receives from the Howard County Board of Education an aggregate payment of $ 25,000 in a fiscal year.

      (ii) "Payee" does not include:

         1. A Howard County public school employee with respect to the employee's compensation; or

         2. A Howard County public school retiree with respect to the retiree's retirement allowance.

   (3) "Searchable website" means a website created in accordance with this section that displays and searches payment data of the Howard County Board of Education.

(b) Searchable Web site. -- On or before January 1, 2012, the Howard County Board of Education shall develop and operate a single searchable website accessible to the public at no cost through the Internet.

(c) Searchable Web site -- Payment data. -- The searchable website shall contain Howard County Board of Education payment data including:

   (1) The name of a payee receiving a payment;

   (2) The location of a payee by zip code; and

   (3) The amount of a payment.

(d) Searchable Web site -- Searches by user. -- The searchable website shall allow the user to:

   (1) Search data for fiscal year 2011 and each year thereafter; and

   (2) Search by the following data fields:

      (i) A payee receiving a payment; and

      (ii) The zip code of a payee receiving a payment.

(e) Construction. -- This section may not be construed to require the disclosure of information that is confidential under federal, State, or local law.

(f) Short title. -- This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Howard County Public Schools Funding Accountability and Transparency Act".

HISTORY: 2010, ch. 399.