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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the review of certain contracts by the state auditor. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 321.013(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The State Auditor shall recommend the audit plan for the |
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state for each year to the committee. In devising the plan, the |
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State Auditor shall consider recommendations concerning |
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coordination of agency functions made jointly by representatives of |
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the Legislative Budget Board, Sunset Advisory Commission, and State |
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Auditor's Office. The State Auditor shall also consider the extent |
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to which a department has received a significant increase in |
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appropriations, including a significant increase in federal or |
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other money passed through to the department, and shall review |
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procurement activities for compliance with Section 2161.123. The |
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plan shall provide for auditing of federal programs at least as |
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often as required under federal law and shall ensure that audit |
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requirements of all bond covenants and other credit or financial |
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agreements are satisfied. The plan shall provide for auditing at |
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least three major contracts as prescribed by Section 321.0139. The |
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committee shall review and approve the plan. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 321.0139 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 321.0139. REVIEW OF MAJOR CONTRACTS. (a) In this |
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section, "major contract" means a state agency contract that has a |
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value of at least $10 million and involves the provision of services |
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to residents of this state. |
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(b) Each year, the state auditor shall review at least three |
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major contracts based on the risk assessment performed by the state |
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auditor under Section 321.013(j). A review under this section is |
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limited to an analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of the |
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contract in providing services to residents of this state. |
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(c) In selecting a major contract to review under this |
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section, the state auditor shall consult with: |
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(1) the House Select Committee on Transparency in |
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State Agency Operations; |
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(2) the House Committee on Government Efficiency and |
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Reform; |
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(3) the Senate Committee on Open Government; and |
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(4) the Senate Committee on State Affairs. |
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(d) A request made by the state auditor to a state agency for |
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information relating to a major contract being reviewed under this |
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section is a request under Chapter 552 for legislative purposes as |
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provided by Section 552.008. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an audit plan devised by the state auditor on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |