Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB657 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Springer S.B. No. 657
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4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to regular efficiency audits of public benefits programs.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Title 2, Subtitle C, Chapter 31, Human Resources
9	9	Code, is amended by adding Section 31.019 to read as follows:
10	10	Sec. 34.019. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this
11	11	section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the
12	12	implementation and administration of the Temporary Assistance for
13	13	Needy Families program established under Part A, Subchapter IV,
14	14	Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) and the State
15	15	Temporary Assistance and Support Services Program authorized by
16	16	Chapter 34, Human Resources Code for the purpose of assessing the
17	17	fiscal management of the program, efficiency of resource
18	18	utilization, and effectiveness of state efforts at achieving the
19	19	four goals of the program as enumerated in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 601(a).
20	20	(b) The State Auditor shall be responsible for ensuring that
21	21	the efficiency audit is conducted in accordance with the
22	22	requirements of this Section.
23	23	(c) The initial efficiency audit shall be conducted in
24	24	fiscal year 2022 with subsequent audits occurring every six years
25	25	during the even-numbered year immediately preceding the convening
26	26	of a regular session of the legislature.
27	27	(d) The Health and Human Services Commission, as
28	28	administrator for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
29	29	program in Texas, shall pay for costs associated with an efficiency
30	30	audit out of existing resources.
31	31	(e) The State Auditor shall select a third-party auditor to
32	32	conduct an efficiency audit under this section no later than six
33	33	months before the end of the fiscal year in which an efficiency
34	34	audit is required.
35	35	(f) The third-party auditor must maintain independence from
36	36	all departments subject to evaluation and those receiving or
37	37	expending funds under the TANF program.
38	38	(g) The third-party auditor shall complete the audit not
39	39	later than three months after the date the auditor was engaged.
40	40	(h) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish guidelines
41	41	identifying the scope and areas of investigation of an efficiency
42	42	audit, including identification of:
43	43	(1) resources being used effectively and efficiently
44	44	to achieve desired outcomes for program beneficiaries;
45	45	(2) resources being used for purposes other than the
46	46	intended goals of the TANF program;
47	47	(3) potential cost savings or reallocations; and
48	48	(4) opportunities for improving services through
49	49	consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and elimination
50	50	of duplicative efforts.
51	51	(i) The third-party auditor shall prepare and submit a
52	52	report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency improvements
53	53	before November 1 of the year the audit is conducted to the
54	54	governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the State Auditor, the
55	55	commissioners of each state department reviewed, and the chairs of
56	56	the House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human
57	57	Services Committee. The report, recommendations, and full audit
58	58	shall also be posted to the public websites of the State Auditor and
59	59	Health and Human Services Commission.
60	60	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.