Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1577 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R5270 MM-F
2	2	By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1577
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to efficiency audits of the Department of Family and
8	8	Protective Services.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
11	11	is amended by adding Section 40.045 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 40.045. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this
13	13	section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the
14	14	operations of the department to examine fiscal management,
15	15	efficiency, outcomes for children and families served by the
16	16	department, and utilization of resources.
17	17	(b) During the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, and
18	18	every fourth year after that date, the department shall conduct an
19	19	efficiency audit.
20	20	(c) In a year in which an efficiency audit is completed as
21	21	required by this section, the efficiency audit shall satisfy the
22	22	department's annual internal audit requirements under Chapter
23	23	2102, Government Code.
24	24	(d) The department shall pay the costs associated with an
25	25	efficiency audit required under this section using money
26	26	appropriated for administrative and internal audit operations in
27	27	the state fiscal year the audit is conducted.
28	28	(e) If the department fails to conduct an efficiency audit
29	29	as required by this section, the amount appropriated to the
30	30	department by the legislature for the next state fiscal biennium
31	31	may not exceed the department's baseline budget.
32	32	(f) Not later than March 1 of the state fiscal year in which
33	33	an efficiency audit is required under this section, the
34	34	commissioner, in collaboration with the council, the department's
35	35	chief financial officer, and the department's internal audit
36	36	director, shall select an external auditor to conduct the
37	37	efficiency audit.
38	38	(g) The external auditor shall be independent of the
39	39	department's direction.
40	40	(h) The external auditor shall complete the audit not later
41	41	than the 90th day after the date the auditor is selected.
42	42	(i) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish the scope
43	43	of the efficiency audit and determine the areas of investigation
44	44	for the audit, including:
45	45	(1) reviewing the department's resources to determine
46	46	whether they are being used effectively and efficiently to achieve
47	47	desired outcomes for children and families served by the
48	48	department;
49	49	(2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of
50	50	resources; and
51	51	(3) identifying opportunities for improving services
52	52	through consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and
53	53	elimination of duplicative efforts.
54	54	(j) Not later than November 1 of the calendar year an
55	55	efficiency audit is conducted, the auditor shall prepare and submit
56	56	a report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency
57	57	improvements to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the
58	58	state auditor, the commissioner, the council, and the chairs of the
59	59	House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human
60	60	Services Committee.
61	61	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.