AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires that the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) plan and implement an efficient and effective centralized system of administrative support services for five health and human services agencies: HHSC, Department of Aging and Disability Services, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Family and Protective Services, and Department of State Health Services. Current law also provides that the performance of administrative support services for the health and human services agencies is the responsibility of HHSC.

 

The term "administrative support services" includes, but is not limited to, strategic planning and evaluation, audit, legal, human resources, information resources, purchasing, contract management, financial management, and accounting services. Aspects of this centralized system of administrative support services for the health and human services agencies have not been fully implemented by HHSC due in part to existing conflicts in law.

 

S.B. 201 seeks to remove the conflicts in law relating to internal audit and information resource managers to ensure that implementation of a centralized system of administrative support services can be achieved by HHSC.

 

As proposed, S.B. 201 amends current law relating to the efficiency and consolidation of powers and duties within the health and human services system.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.00551, as follows:

 

Sec. 531.00551. CONSOLIDATED INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to operate the internal audit program required under Chapter 2102 (Internal Auditing) for HHSC and each health and human services agency as a consolidated internal audit program.

 

(b) Provides that for purposes of this section, a reference in Chapter 2102 (Internal Auditing) to the administrator of a state agency with respect to a health and human services agency means the executive commissioner.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.02731, as follows:

 

Sec. 531.02731. REPORT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGER TO COMMISSION. Requires the information resources manager of a health and human services agency to report directly to the executive commissioner or a deputy executive commissioner designated by the executive commissioner, notwithstanding Section 2054.075(b) (requiring each state agency to provide that its information resources manager is part of the agency's executive management and reports directly to a person with a title functionally equivalents to executive director or deputy executive director and to report the extent and results of state agencies' compliance to the legislature).

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.