By:  Ellis                                                                S.B. No. 145



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the corporate integrity unit within the 
office of the attorney general.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 402.0231 to read as follows:
	Sec. 402.0231.  CORPORATE INTEGRITY UNIT.  (a)  In this 
section, "corporate fraud" means a violation of state or federal 
law or rules relating to fraud committed by a corporation, limited 
liability company, or registered limited liability partnership or 
an officer, director, or partner of those entities while acting in a 
representative capacity.
	(b)  A corporate integrity unit is created within the office 
of the attorney general to assist in the enforcement of the laws 
relating to corporate fraud or other similar illegal activities.  
The office shall:
		(1)  assist district attorneys and county attorneys in 
the investigation and prosecution of corporate fraud or other 
similar illegal activities allegedly committed by corporations, 
limited liability companies, and registered limited liability 
partnerships;
		(2)  assist state agencies with investigation of 
complaints and administrative enforcement actions for corporate 
fraud violations, including the assessment of an administrative 
penalty or other administrative sanction;
		(3)  serve as a clearinghouse for information relating 
to the investigation and prosecution of corporate fraud and other 
similar illegal activities in this state; and
		(4)  maintain a hotline to receive calls from persons 
who have information regarding possible corporate fraud violations 
and other similar illegal activities.
	(c)  To the extent allowed by law, a state agency or local law 
enforcement agency shall cooperate with the corporate integrity 
unit by providing information requested by the unit as necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this section.
	(d)  The corporate integrity unit shall refer calls received 
on the hotline to the appropriate governmental entity for review or 
further action, including a possible investigation.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.