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CS/SB 1194 — Citizen Support and Direct-support Organizations

by Appropriations Committee; and Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee (GO)

The bill creates new reporting and transparency requirements for each Citizen Support Organization (CSO) and Direct Support Organization (DSO) that is created or authorized pursuant to law or executive order and created, approved, or administered by a state agency. The bill requires each CSO and DSO to report information related to its organization, mission, and finances to the agency it was created to support. A contract between an agency and a CSO or DSO must require the CSO or DSO to provide such information to the agency, and must require the agency to terminate the contract if the CSO or DSO fails to provide the information for two consecutive years. The bill requires each agency receiving such information from a CSO or DSO to make the information available on its website, and to provide a link to the CSO’s or DSO’s website if such a website exists.

The bill requires each agency to annually report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability the information provided to the agency by the CSO or DSO, and to make a recommendation on whether to continue, terminate, or modify the agency’s association with the CSO or DSO.

The bill provides that a law creating or authorizing the creation of a CSO or DSO must state that the creation or authorization is repealed on October 1 of the fifth year after enactment, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. The bill directs the Legislature to review CSOs and DSOs in existence on the effective date of the bill by July 1, 2019.

The bill provides for the future repeal of certain sections of law authorizing CSOs and DSOs, unless those sections are reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.

Vote: Senate 40-0; House 116-0