| 1 | 1 | | 87R12284 BRG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.B. No. 4193 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the establishment of an office of the inspector general |
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| 8 | 8 | | at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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| 11 | 11 | | Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SUBCHAPTER G. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 12.301. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. (a) The |
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| 14 | 14 | | office of the inspector general is an office within the commission. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) The commission shall appoint an inspector general to |
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| 16 | 16 | | serve as director of the office of the inspector general. The |
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| 17 | 17 | | inspector general serves until removed by the commission. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (c) The commission shall provide staff, administrative |
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| 19 | 19 | | resources, and support services as necessary to the office of the |
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| 20 | 20 | | inspector general. |
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| 21 | 21 | | Sec. 12.302. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The office of the |
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| 22 | 22 | | inspector general is responsible for the investigation, |
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| 23 | 23 | | prevention, and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse at the |
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| 24 | 24 | | commission and entities over which the commission exercises |
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| 25 | 25 | | oversight, including the independent organization certified under |
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| 26 | 26 | | Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (b) The office of the inspector general has all of the |
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| 28 | 28 | | powers necessary or appropriate to carry out the office's |
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| 29 | 29 | | responsibilities and functions under this subchapter and other law. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (c) The inspection or disclosure of a record, document, or |
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| 31 | 31 | | file for purposes of an investigation under this subchapter is not a |
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| 32 | 32 | | voluntary disclosure under Section 552.007, Government Code. A |
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| 33 | 33 | | record, document, or file made available to the office for purposes |
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| 34 | 34 | | of an investigation under this subchapter is not subject to public |
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| 35 | 35 | | disclosure by the office. |
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| 36 | 36 | | Sec. 12.303. COOPERATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The office |
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| 37 | 37 | | of the inspector general may refer matters for further civil and |
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| 38 | 38 | | administrative action to appropriate administrative agencies, |
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| 39 | 39 | | including the attorney general. |
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| 40 | 40 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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