HBA-JEK S.B. 288 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 288 By: Armbrister Corrections 4/1/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The application of statutes that regulate the fiscal operation of community supervision and corrections departments has led to confusion. Senate Bill 288 provides for the appointment of a fiscal officer to manage and take responsibility for the financial transactions of a community supervision and corrections department. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 288 amends the Government Code to authorize a district judge or judges to appoint a fiscal officer other than the county auditor to a community supervision and corrections department (department). The bill provides that the fiscal officer is responsible for ensuring that financial transactions of the department are lawful and allowable, prescribing accounting procedures for the department, and managing and protecting funds, fees, state aid, and receipts to the same extent that a county auditor manages county and other local entity funds. If a judge appoints a fiscal officer, the department is required to pay all costs related to the functions of the fiscal officer. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.