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2011 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 64
Directing the Clerk of the House of Delegates to post a record of the recorded committee, subcommittee, and floor votes of members of the House of Delegates to the legislative electronic information system.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 4, 2011

 

WHEREAS, democracy works best when citizens are well informed and actively involved in the processes of their government at all levels; and

WHEREAS, connecting citizens to their government promotes transparency and accountability, increases access to services and information, improves communication between public officials and the electorate, and increases voters' confidence in those who have been elected to represent them; and

WHEREAS, today, technology is an integral part of the legislative process at the state, local, and federal levels, and nearly every state utilizes technology to promote legislative efficiency and effectiveness and to increase citizen access to the legislative process and elected officials; and

WHEREAS, state legislators cast recorded votes on thousands of measures in subcommittees, committees, and on the floors of each chamber during a legislative session, and millions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year to maintain the legislative electronic information system; however, it can be an arduous task for ordinary citizens to track the voting records of their state legislators; and

WHEREAS, citizen access to the voting records of state legislators would facilitate communication between members and the electorate and provide legislators an opportunity to respond to and build relationships with citizens, explain the nuances of the legislative process and public policies, provide assistance and advocacy as appropriate, and correct inaccurate information in a timely manner when contacted by constituents; and

WHEREAS, significant advances have been made in Internet technology, and a growing number of states' legislative websites include an electronic display of the full texts and amendments of bills and resolutions, legislative calendars and journals, standing committee structure, the budget, and links to important governmental and nongovernmental websites as well as the voting records of members of the legislature; and

WHEREAS, state legislative websites are evaluated on the following criteria: content, usability, interactivity, transparency, and audience, and these advanced websites promote participatory government, civic engagement, and an informed citizenry for the benefit of the common good; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates be directed to post a record of the recorded committee, subcommittee, and floor votes of members of the House of Delegates to the legislative electronic information system. The Clerk of the House of Delegates, in cooperation with the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, shall publish on the legislative electronic information system a record, organized by member name, of the recorded committee, subcommittee, and floor votes of each member of the House of Delegates. Electronic access to this information shall be made available to all agencies of the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, and the public. The publication of such information on the legislative electronic information system by the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall commence with the 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly.