Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB595 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/04/2019

                    86R4139 SRA-D
 By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 595


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to an annual audit by the state auditor regarding certain
 community development block grant disaster recovery program money.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by
 adding Section 321.024 to read as follows:
 Sec. 321.024.  ANNUAL AUDIT REGARDING CERTAIN COMMUNITY
 DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM MONEY. (a) The
 state auditor shall conduct an audit of the distribution and
 expenditure of community development block grant disaster recovery
 program money authorized by the Further Additional Supplemental
 Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018
 (Subdivision 1 of Division B of Pub. L. No. 115-123), that is
 received by this state and distributed to a council of government or
 other political subdivision or another entity. An audit under this
 subsection shall be conducted for each state fiscal year in which a
 distribution described by this subsection is made, including a
 distribution from a council of government to another entity. In
 conducting an audit, the state auditor shall develop an audit plan
 and establish the scope of the audit and objectives for the audit
 that are consistent with generally accepted government auditing
 standards and with other audits conducted by the state auditor
 under this chapter.
 (b)  An audit conducted under Subsection (a) must:
 (1)  identify each recipient of grant money, including
 each political subdivision or other person who receives grant money
 distributed by a council of government; and
 (2)  specify the amount of grant money received by each
 recipient.
 (c)  The General Land Office and a political subdivision
 receiving the grant money described by Subsection (a) shall
 cooperate with and provide assistance to the state auditor in
 conducting an audit under this section.
 (d)  Subject to this subsection, a council of government that
 receives the grant money described by Subsection (a) shall provide
 to the state auditor all relevant records maintained by the council
 regarding the distribution and expenditure of the money.  The state
 auditor is entitled to access to the records of information of the
 council in the manner provided by this chapter for access to the
 records of an entity subject to audit under this chapter.
 (e)  The state auditor shall prepare a report of an audit
 conducted under this section not later than December 1 following
 the end of the state fiscal year in which the audit is completed.
 The report must include the information described by Subsection
 (b).  The state auditor shall file the report with the governor, the
 lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
 and each member of the legislature, and the General Land Office
 shall publish the report on its Internet website.
 SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
 of this Act, the state auditor shall conduct an initial audit under
 Section 321.024, Government Code, as added by this Act, covering
 the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2019.  Notwithstanding the
 deadline provided by Section 321.024(e), Government Code, as added
 by this Act, the state auditor may file the report of the initial
 audit as soon as practicable after the date on which the audit is
 completed.
 SECTION 3.  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, 2019.