BILL ANALYSIS
By: Harless
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas Government Code directs county auditors to present the Texas Commission on Jail Standards with quarterly audits of the jail commissary, while the Texas Local Government Code directs the auditor to examine the jail commissary accounts at least once a year. The difference in the frequency in how often jail commissary accounts are to be audited has been the cause of confusion for some counties, and does not provide a consistent rule for the handling of jail commissary audits.
C.S.H.B. 1780 amends the Texas Government Code so that it is consistent with the Local Government Code, thus giving county auditors clear direction on the frequency of commissary audits in county jails.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1780 amends the Government Code by requiring the county auditor to submit a copy of each audit of the county's jail commissary operations as specified under the Local Government Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B 1780 differs from the original bill by cross-referencing the Local Government Code which also specifies the county auditor's responsibility to provide the commission with a copy of the audit of the county jail's commissary operations.