Bill Text: TX HB1516 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to efficiency audits of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the state temporary assistance and support services program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB1516 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1516-Enrolled.html
| H.B. No. 1516 | ||
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| relating to efficiency audits of the Temporary Assistance for Needy | ||
| Families program and the state temporary assistance and support | ||
| services program. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 531.005522 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 531.005522. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of | ||
| this section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the | ||
| implementation and administration of the federal Temporary | ||
| Assistance for Needy Families program operated under Chapter 31, | ||
| Human Resources Code, and the state temporary assistance and | ||
| support services program operated under Chapter 34, Human Resources | ||
| Code, to examine fiscal management, efficiency of the use of | ||
| resources, and the effectiveness of state efforts in achieving the | ||
| goals of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program | ||
| described under 42 U.S.C. Section 601(a). | ||
| (b) In 2022 and every sixth year after that year, an | ||
| external auditor selected under Subsection (e) shall conduct an | ||
| efficiency audit. | ||
| (c) The commission shall pay the costs associated with an | ||
| efficiency audit required under this section using existing | ||
| resources. | ||
| (d) The state auditor shall ensure that the external auditor | ||
| conducts the efficiency audit in accordance with the requirements | ||
| of this section. | ||
| (e) Not later than March 1 of the year in which an efficiency | ||
| audit is required under this section, the state auditor shall | ||
| select an external auditor to conduct the efficiency audit. | ||
| (f) The external auditor shall be independent and not | ||
| subject to direction from: | ||
| (1) the commission; or | ||
| (2) any other state agency subject to evaluation by | ||
| the auditor for purposes of this section or that receives or spends | ||
| money under the programs described by Subsection (a). | ||
| (g) The external auditor shall complete the audit not later | ||
| than the 90th day after the date the auditor is selected. | ||
| (h) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish the scope | ||
| of the efficiency audit and determine the areas of investigation | ||
| for the audit, including: | ||
| (1) reviewing the resources dedicated to a program | ||
| described by Subsection (a) to determine whether those resources: | ||
| (A) are being used effectively and efficiently to | ||
| achieve desired outcomes for individuals receiving benefits under a | ||
| program; and | ||
| (B) are not being used for purposes other than | ||
| the intended goals of the applicable program; | ||
| (2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of | ||
| resources; and | ||
| (3) identifying opportunities for improving services | ||
| through consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and | ||
| elimination of duplicative efforts. | ||
| (i) Not later than November 1 of the year an efficiency | ||
| audit is conducted, the external auditor shall prepare and submit a | ||
| report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency improvements | ||
| to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the state auditor, | ||
| the executive commissioner, and the chairs of the House Human | ||
| Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services | ||
| Committee. The executive commissioner and the state auditor shall | ||
| publish the report, recommendations, and full audit on the | ||
| commission's and the state auditor's Internet websites. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.B. No. 1516 was passed by the House on May | ||
| 14, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 50, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.B. No. 1516 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
| 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| _____________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
