Bill Description: House Bill 169 requires state agencies to evaluate the way they treat members of the public, as expressed by state citizen engagement, satisfaction, or increase in overall trust.

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Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency or accountability? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency or accountability?

Under Section 67-1904, Idaho Code, "every fiscal year, as part of its budget request, each agency shall prepare an annual performance report." Among other things, this report must contain "not more than ten (10) key quantifiable performance measures, which clearly capture the agency's progress in meeting the goals of its major divisions and core functions stated in the strategic plan. ..." 

House Bill 166 amends this law, to say that, "If an agency directly serves state citizens, at least one (1) performance measure must include customer experience to quantify state citizen engagement, satisfaction, or increase in overall trust."

Agencies that do not directly serve state citizens must submit "at least one (1) performance measure must include employee engagement to quantify satisfaction, productivity, effectiveness, or retention."

While somewhat minor, these requirements may help to improve accountability within state agencies and to provide the Legislature with a better understanding of how well the public is being served by state government. 

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