Bill
HB 397
HB 397 changes how the State Treasurer reports state travel-related expenses for public officers, increasing reporting detail and transparency.
HB 397 (Session 153, Delaware) — Summary
Overview
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE TREASURER REPORTING OF STATE PAYMENTS FOR STATE PUBLIC OFFICER TRAVEL-RELATED EXPENSES
- Purpose: To modify reporting requirements by the State Treasurer regarding payments made for travel-related expenses of state public officers.
- Status: Introduced and assigned to the Administration Committee in the House on May 5, 2026.
- Sponsors: Co-sponsors Frank Cooke and Bryan Shupe.
Key Provisions (expected scope based on title and common legislative structure)
- Reporting amendments: The bill would alter how the State Treasurer reports expenditures for travel-related costs incurred by state public officers. This could involve:
- Defining or redefining travel-related expenses subject to reporting.
- Adjusting reporting frequency (e.g., quarterly, annually) or timelines.
- Requiring additional data fields or granularity in reports (e.g., traveler name, purpose of travel, destination, dates, amount, funding source).
- Transparency and accountability: The changes are likely aimed at increasing transparency of how public funds are used for travel by state officers, potentially aligning reporting with other financial disclosures or procurement rules.
- Compliance and enforcement: Provisions may include penalties, auditability, or oversight mechanisms to ensure accurate reporting and availability of records to the public or auditors.
Who is Affected
- State Treasurer’s Office: Primary custodian and reporter of state payments for travel-related expenses of state public officers.
- State public officers: Individuals whose travel expenses are funded by state funds and subject to reporting.
- Public and oversight entities: Legislators, auditors, and the general public who rely on the reports for transparency and accountability.
Timeline and Procedural Details
- Introduction: The bill was introduced on May 5, 2026.
- Committee action: Assigned to the Administration Committee in the House, where it will undergo hearings, potential amendments, and votes before moving to the full House for consideration.
- Potential downstream steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed to the Senate (or the corresponding chamber) for its own committee review and votes, followed by potential reconciliation and final passage, and finally signature or veto by the Governor.
Notes and Considerations
- Specific language, definitions, and numeric thresholds (e.g., what constitutes travel-related expenses, reporting format, and reporting cadence) are not provided in the summary available here. The exact provisions will depend on the text as amended in committee.
- The bill’s impact will hinge on whether it expands, narrows, or clarifies reporting requirements, and whether it introduces new public disclosures or administrative burdens.
If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact text of HB 397 (once available) to produce a line-by-line mapping of provisions and a more detailed impact assessment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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