The Oklahoma Senate approved legislation to improve fiscal transparency and accountability of Oklahoma’s state agencies.

Senate Bill 177, by Sen. Ron Sharp, was one of the seven recommendations made by the multi-grand jury in May 2018 following the discovery of financial issues at the State Department of Health.

SB 177 requires state agencies to provide a balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balances as prescribed by the State Auditor and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).

The financial information is to be published online by January 1, 2021.  The bill was written with input from the State Auditor, OMES and the State Comptroller.

Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, is the principal House author of SB 177, which now moves to the House for further consideration.