Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1516 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.B. No. 1516
	1	+	By: Parker, Sanford, Frank H.B. No. 1516
	2	+	(Senate Sponsor - Springer)
	3	+	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 2021;
	4	+	May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
	5	+	Human Services; May 22, 2021, reported favorably by the following
	6	+	vote: Yeas 6, Nays 3; May 22, 2021, sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
2	8
3	9
	10	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	11		AN ACT
5	12		relating to efficiency audits of the Temporary Assistance for Needy
6	13		Families program and the state temporary assistance and support
7	14		services program.
8	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	16		SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
10	17		amended by adding Section 531.005522 to read as follows:
11	18		Sec. 531.005522. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of
12	19		this section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the
13	20		implementation and administration of the federal Temporary
14	21		Assistance for Needy Families program operated under Chapter 31,
15	22		Human Resources Code, and the state temporary assistance and
16	23		support services program operated under Chapter 34, Human Resources
17	24		Code, to examine fiscal management, efficiency of the use of
18	25		resources, and the effectiveness of state efforts in achieving the
19	26		goals of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
20	27		described under 42 U.S.C. Section 601(a).
21	28		(b) In 2022 and every sixth year after that year, an
22	29		external auditor selected under Subsection (e) shall conduct an
23	30		efficiency audit.
24	31		(c) The commission shall pay the costs associated with an
25	32		efficiency audit required under this section using existing
26	33		resources.
27	34		(d) The state auditor shall ensure that the external auditor
28	35		conducts the efficiency audit in accordance with the requirements
29	36		of this section.
30	37		(e) Not later than March 1 of the year in which an efficiency
31	38		audit is required under this section, the state auditor shall
32	39		select an external auditor to conduct the efficiency audit.
33	40		(f) The external auditor shall be independent and not
34	41		subject to direction from:
35	42		(1) the commission; or
36	43		(2) any other state agency subject to evaluation by
37	44		the auditor for purposes of this section or that receives or spends
38	45		money under the programs described by Subsection (a).
39	46		(g) The external auditor shall complete the audit not later
40	47		than the 90th day after the date the auditor is selected.
41	48		(h) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish the scope
42	49		of the efficiency audit and determine the areas of investigation
43	50		for the audit, including:
44	51		(1) reviewing the resources dedicated to a program
45	52		described by Subsection (a) to determine whether those resources:
46	53		(A) are being used effectively and efficiently to
47	54		achieve desired outcomes for individuals receiving benefits under a
48	55		program; and
49	56		(B) are not being used for purposes other than
50	57		the intended goals of the applicable program;
51	58		(2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of
52	59		resources; and
53	60		(3) identifying opportunities for improving services
54	61		through consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and
55	62		elimination of duplicative efforts.
56	63		(i) Not later than November 1 of the year an efficiency
57	64		audit is conducted, the external auditor shall prepare and submit a
58	65		report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency improvements
59	66		to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the state auditor,
60	67		the executive commissioner, and the chairs of the House Human
61	68		Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services
62	69		Committee. The executive commissioner and the state auditor shall
63	70		publish the report, recommendations, and full audit on the
64	71		commission's and the state auditor's Internet websites.
65	72		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
66		-	______________________________ ______________________________
67		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
68		-	I certify that H.B. No. 1516 was passed by the House on May
69		-	14, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 50, 2 present, not
70		-	voting.
71		-	______________________________
72		-	Chief Clerk of the House
73		-	I certify that H.B. No. 1516 was passed by the Senate on May
74		-	25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
75		-	______________________________
76		-	Secretary of the Senate
77		-	APPROVED: _____________________
78		-	Date
79		-	_____________________
80		-	Governor
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