Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1915 by Cortez (Relating to the adoption of an ethics policy by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to require the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) oversight committee to adopt and enforce a CPRIT ethics policy by January 1, 2014. The bill would require CPRIT to send the proposed policy or any amendments to the Ethics Commission and the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) for comments at least 45 days before the oversight committee intends to adopt the policy. The bill would require CPRIT to ensure that all contracts the agency enters into include applicable provisions from the ethics policy. CPRIT, the Ethics Commission and the SAO indicate that any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed within existing agency resources.
In accordance with Government Code 321.013, all additional duties and responsibilities prescribed by the bill would be evaluated for inclusion in the SAO's annual audit plan for Legislative Audit Committee approval.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
308 State Auditor's Office, 356 Texas Ethics Commission, 542 Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas