85R19415 LED-D By: Davis of Harris, Raymond, Gooden H.B. No. 2523 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2523: By: Davis of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 2523 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in certain public benefits programs by the office of inspector general for the Health and Human Services Commission. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 31.045 to read as follows: Sec. 31.045. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse in the financial assistance program. A peace officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace officer for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 33.032 to read as follows: Sec. 33.032. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. A peace officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace officer for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 4. 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, 2017.