By: Fraser, Birdwell S.B. No. 448
(In the Senate - Filed February 8, 2013; February 13, 2013,
read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
March 18, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 1; March 18, 2013,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 448 By: Fraser
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the audit of certain river authorities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. AUDIT. Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 321.024 to read as follows:
Sec. 321.024. CERTAIN RIVER AUTHORITIES SUBJECT TO AUDIT.
(a) A river authority listed in Subsection (b) is subject to audit
under this chapter as if it were a state agency.
(b) This section applies only to the:
(1) Brazos River Authority; and
(2) Lower Colorado River Authority.
(c) A river authority shall pay the cost incurred by the
state auditor in conducting an audit of the authority under this
section. The state auditor shall determine the cost, and the
authority shall pay the amount promptly on receipt of a statement
from the state auditor detailing the cost.
SECTION 2. BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY. Chapter 8502, Special
District Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8502.0051 to
read as follows:
Sec. 8502.0051. AUDIT. The authority is subject to the
audit provisions of Section 321.024, Government Code.
SECTION 3. LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY. Section
8503.015, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 8503.015. AUDIT. The authority is subject to the audit
provisions of:
(1) Subchapter G, Chapter 49, Water Code; and
(2) Section 321.024, Government Code.
SECTION 4. TRANSITION. (a) Subject to approval by the
Legislative Audit Committee for inclusion in the audit plan under
Subsection (c), Section 321.013, Government Code, the state auditor
shall conduct comprehensive audits, including audits of the
operations and performance, of the Brazos River Authority and the
Lower Colorado River Authority under Section 321.024, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
(b) A river authority audited under this section shall
cooperate and provide assistance and access to all necessary
records, confidential or nonconfidential, to the state auditor in
conducting the audit under this section.
(c) Not later than December 31, 2015, the state auditor
shall prepare a written report for an audit conducted under this
section and file the report in accordance with Section 321.014,
Government Code.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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