H.B. No. 2523
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. Section 531.102(t), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(t) At each quarterly meeting of any advisory council
responsible for advising the executive commissioner on the
operation of the commission, the inspector general shall submit a
report to the executive commissioner, the governor, and the
legislature on:
(1) the office's activities;
(2) the office's performance with respect to
performance measures established by the executive commissioner for
the office;
(3) fraud trends identified by the office; [and]
(4) any recommendations for changes in policy to
prevent or address fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of health
and human services in this state; and
(5) the amount of money recovered during the preceding
quarter as a result of investigations involving peace officers
employed and commissioned by the office for each program for which
the office has investigative authority.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. This Act does not authorize the Health and Human
Services Commission's office of inspector general to commission
additional peace officers.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the House on May 9,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2523 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141
, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays
7.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor