Texas House Bill HB2164

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to efficiency audits of the Health and Human Services Commission.

Impact

The implementation of this bill is intended to bolster the accountability and transparency of the HHSC by ensuring a thorough examination of its programs and resources. By having an independent auditor assess the effectiveness of the commission's operations, it is expected that the state can identify potential areas for cost savings and improve service delivery across various health and human services programs. The requirement for public reporting of the audit findings aims to encourage informed oversight from stakeholders, including the executive commission and legislative bodies.

Summary

House Bill 2164 proposes a systematic approach for conducting efficiency audits of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). This bill mandates that an external auditor, independent of the commission's influence, perform audits every six years, with the first audit taking place in 2022. The primary goal of these audits is to assess the commission's operational efficiency by examining fiscal management, program implementation, and identifying any cases of fraud, waste, and abuse in the services administered by the HHSC.

Contention

Supporters of HB 2164 argue that regular efficiency audits will lead to significant improvements in how public funds are managed and that they may expose inefficiencies and outdated practices within the commission. However, there may be concerns regarding the potential for such audits to uncover issues that could lead to funding cuts or changes in program focus. Some individuals may view the bill as an additional layer of bureaucratic oversight that could slow down decision-making processes within the commission, especially if the audits reveal problematic areas that require substantial changes.