Created in accordance with new Right-to-Know law, provides increased
government transparency
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania
Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann today publicly unveiled a searchable database
that allows the public greater access to state government contract
information through the Pennsylvania Treasury Department's Web site,
patreasury.org.
The Treasury Department created the Contracts e-Library in response to
the Right-to-Know Law, which dramatically revised prior Pennsylvania law
regulating the rights of the public to obtain information from government
about its activities. The new law, signed by Governor Rendell on February
14, 2008, expands the information available to the public, establishes a
presumption in favor of disclosure, and creates an Office of Open Records
to facilitate any disputes about disclosure of information. In addition,
the new law enlarges the number of government agencies, boards, commissions
and other bodies that are subject to requirements to make information
available to the public.
"Since taking office as Pennsylvania Treasurer, I have been committed
to making the Commonwealth's financial information and operations more
accessible to all Pennsylvanians," Treasurer Wiessmann said. "We are
pleased to offer this new free, online service as part of our commitment to
bringing good governance and transparency into all of our day-to-day
operations."
The information to populate the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library will
be uploaded into the system by each state government agency. While the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department will be responsible for the system's
infrastructure and maintenance, the agencies are ultimately responsible for
providing contract information for the database.
To aid in public use of the database, the Pennsylvania Treasury
Department is requiring agencies to supply summaries with every contract
for easier access and identification. In addition, when searching for a
contract, the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library will also provide links to
any related contracts, such as amendments or purchase orders, to allow
users to more readily track the evolution of an agency's transactions with
a particular vendor.
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department launched the Pennsylvania
Contracts e-Library in just four months by holding focus groups with users
and building the online portal for the database. The additional
requirements of the new law are not scheduled to take effect until Jan. 1,
2009.
"The passage of the Right-to-Know Law earlier this year was an
important step toward boosting the public's trust in government during a
time of increasing scrutiny," Governor Rendell said. "The Pennsylvania
Contracts e-Library is the first of many action items from that law that
will make our operations more accessible, and will continue to break down
the barriers between Pennsylvania citizens and government."
The unveiling of the Pennsylvania Contracts e-Library was announced at
a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda with Treasurer Wiessmann, several
state legislators and other key stakeholders in attendance.
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department, under the leadership of Treasurer
Robin L. Wiessmann, is a leader in changing the way treasuries do business.
The Department and its employees are accountable for safeguarding the
financial assets of all Pennsylvanians, serving as custodian, investors and
disbursers of the Commonwealth's funds. Treasury also helps Pennsylvanians
achieve financial success through a variety of programs and services like
the Unclaimed Property program, the nowU College Savings Program, the
KeystoneHELP low-interest loan program, and the INVEST program for local
governments and nonprofits. For more information about Treasurer Wiessmann
and the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, visit http://www.patreasury.org.
CONTACT: Carrie Fischer Lepore
(717) 787-2991
news@patreasury.org
SOURCE Pennsylvania Treasury Department
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Related links:
http://www.patreasury.org
CONTACT:
Carrie Fischer Lepore of the Pennsylvania
Treasury Department, +1-717-787-2991, news@patreasury.org
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