| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to efficiency audits of the Department of Family and |
|
|
Protective Services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 40.045 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 40.045. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this |
|
|
section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the |
|
|
operations of the department to examine fiscal management, |
|
|
efficiency, outcomes for children and families served by the |
|
|
department, and utilization of resources. |
|
|
(b) During the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, and |
|
|
every fourth year after that date, the department shall conduct an |
|
|
efficiency audit. |
|
|
(c) In a year in which an efficiency audit is completed as |
|
|
required by this section, the efficiency audit shall satisfy the |
|
|
department's annual internal audit requirements under Chapter |
|
|
2102, Government Code. |
|
|
(d) The department shall pay the costs associated with an |
|
|
efficiency audit required under this section using money |
|
|
appropriated for administrative and internal audit operations in |
|
|
the state fiscal year the audit is conducted. |
|
|
(e) Not later than March 1 of the state fiscal year in which |
|
|
an efficiency audit is required under this section, the |
|
|
commissioner, in collaboration with the council, the department's |
|
|
chief financial officer, and the department's internal audit |
|
|
director, shall select an external auditor to conduct the |
|
|
efficiency audit. |
|
|
(f) The external auditor shall be independent of the |
|
|
department's direction. |
|
|
(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 department's resources to determine |
|
|
whether they are being used effectively and efficiently to achieve |
|
|
desired outcomes for children and families served by the |
|
|
department, including the following outcomes: |
|
|
(A) ensuring the safety of children in |
|
|
placements; |
|
|
(B) preventing entry into foster care through the |
|
|
use of family preservation services; |
|
|
(C) reducing the amount of time that a child is |
|
|
placed in substitute care and is in the conservatorship of the |
|
|
department; |
|
|
(D) increasing the placement of children with |
|
|
relative or kinship caregivers when possible; |
|
|
(E) ensuring sufficient state capacity for |
|
|
foster care and kinship placements; |
|
|
(F) reducing the number of children who age out |
|
|
of care and enhancing supports for youth at risk of aging out of |
|
|
care; and |
|
|
(G) increasing the reunification of children |
|
|
with the biological parents of the children when possible; |
|
|
(2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of |
|
|
resources; and |
|
|
(3) identifying opportunities for the department to |
|
|
partner with other state agencies and community organizations to |
|
|
improve services through consolidation of essential functions, |
|
|
outsourcing, and elimination of duplicative efforts. |
|
|
(i) Not later than November 1 of the calendar year an |
|
|
efficiency audit is conducted, the 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 commissioner, the council, and the chairs of the |
|
|
House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human |
|
|
Services Committee. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2374 was passed by the House on April |
|
|
21, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 14, 1 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2374 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |