1Providing for the establishment of a searchable budget database-
2driven Internet website detailing certain information
3concerning taxpayer expenditures and investments by charter
4school entities.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Short title.

8This act shall be known and may be cited as the Charter
9School Entity Web Accountability and Transparency (CharterWATCH)
10Act.

11Section 2. Definitions.

12The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14context clearly indicates otherwise:

15"Charter school." As defined in section 1703-A of the act of
16March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
17of 1949.

18"Charter school entity." A charter school, regional charter

1school or cyber charter school.

2"Cyber charter school." As defined in section 1703-A of the
3act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
4School Code of 1949.

5"Department." The Department of Education of the
6Commonwealth.

7"Entity." Any of the following:

8(1) An individual, corporation, association, union,
9limited liability company or limited liability partnership.

10(2) Any other legal business entity, including a
11nonprofit, a grantee, a contractor and a sole proprietor.

12(3) Any political subdivision or other local government
13entity.

14"Funding action or expenditure." A payment by a charter
15school entity to include:

16(1) A grant.

17(2) A loan.

18(3) Reimbursement.

19(4) Payment made pursuant to the purchase of goods and
20services, including employee salaries, or to a construction
21or other contract.

22(5) Payment of debt service.

23(6) Payments made pursuant to a formula.

24(7) Payments to political subdivisions or other local
25government entities.

26"Funding source." A charter school entity's general fund or
27special funds.

28"Public School Code of 1949." The act of March 10, 1949
29(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.

30"Regional charter school." As defined in section 1703-A of

1the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
2School Code of 1949.

3Section 3. Searchable database.

4(a) Development.--By December 31, 2014, the department shall
5develop, implement and maintain a single, searchable, public
6Internet website to be called CharterWATCH.

7(b) Internet website contents.--The Internet website
8required pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide the following
9information for each charter school entity:

10(1) The name and address of the charter school entity.

11(2) The amount of funding received by the charter school
12entity from Federal, State, local and private sources and
13deposited in the charter school entity's general fund or
14special fund during the previous month.

15(3) The name and address of the entity receiving a
16payment from the charter school entity pursuant to a funding
17action or expenditure.

18(4) A description and the amount of each funding action
19or expenditure.

20(5) The funding source for each funding action or
21expenditure.

22(6) The expected and achieved performance outcomes from
23the funding action or expenditure, if available.

24(7) A counter to show the number of times the Internet
25website is accessed.

26(8) A link to each charter school entity's Internet
27website, where available.

28(9) The total number of individuals employed by each
29charter school entity as of the 15th day of the previous
30month.

1(10) For each individual employed by a charter school
2entity, the following:

3(i) Name.

4(ii) Position or title.

5(iii) Current annual salary, based on the employee's
6pay schedule and current salary.

7(iv) Any additional compensation received by the
8individual and the basis for such compensation,
9including, but not limited to, duties as a coach or
10activity advisor.

11(v) Compensation, as defined in section 303(a)(1)(i)
12of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the
13Tax Reform Code of 1971, paid by the charter school
14entity.

15(c) Exemption.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this
16act, records not subject to disclosure under the act of February
1714, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, shall
18not be included on the Internet website.

19(d) Access.--The Internet website shall allow the public to
20search for and aggregate information at no cost.

21(e) Maintenance.--Information for a fiscal year shall remain
22on the Internet website for a period of no less than eight years
23from the date of posting.

24Section 4. Administration.

25(a) Charter school entity requirements.--Each charter school
26entity shall cooperate with the department. The following shall
27apply:

28(1) Each charter school entity shall provide the
29department with all information regarding Federal, State,
30local and private funding received and all funding actions or

1expenditures as required under this act at the time the
2funding is received or the funding action or expenditure is
3paid by the charter school entity.

4(2) Each charter school entity shall provide the
5department with complement and employment compensation
6information as required under this act prior to the end of
7each month.

8(b) Accuracy.--Each charter school entity is responsible for
9verifying the accuracy and completeness of information submitted
10to the department.

11(c) Format.--Each charter school entity shall establish and
12maintain the information required to be posted under section 3
13in a manner prescribed by the department. The department shall
14consult with charter school entities to develop the format to be
15utilized.

16(d) Penalty.--The charter of any charter school entity that
17fails to comply with the provisions of this act shall not be
18renewed.

19Section 5. Report to Governor and General Assembly.

20The department shall prepare an annual report containing
21statistical information on the usage and performance of the
22Internet website. The report shall contain frequency of user
23access of the Internet website, types of data being accessed and
24Internet website performance. The report shall be submitted to
25the Governor, the chairman and minority chairman of the
26Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairman and
27minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House
28of Representatives, the chairman and minority chairman of the
29Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority
30chairman of the Education Committee of the House of

1Representatives by March 30 of each year, beginning March 30,
22016.

3Section 6. Effective date.

4This act shall take effect immediately.