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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authority of a county auditor to investigate misuse of |
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county funds or property. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Local Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter C to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES |
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Sec. 84.051. INVESTIGATION OF MISUSE OF COUNTY FUNDS AND |
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PROPERTY. (a) A county auditor may investigate a complaint |
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submitted to the county auditor that alleges misuse of county funds |
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or property. |
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(b) After a county auditor's investigation under Subsection |
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(a) is completed, the county auditor may: |
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(1) develop a report of the county auditor's findings |
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that includes a summary of the findings and any comments from the |
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county auditor; |
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(2) except as provided by Subsection (d), post the |
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results of the investigation and the report developed under |
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Subdivision (1), if applicable, on the county's Internet website, |
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redacting any information required to be kept confidential by other |
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law; or |
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(3) refer the matter to an appropriate law enforcement |
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agency if the county auditor suspects criminal activity. |
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(c) If a county auditor develops a report under Subsection |
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(b)(1), the county auditor shall provide a copy of the report to the |
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commissioners court of the county. |
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(d) If a county auditor refers the matter to a law |
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enforcement agency under Subsection (b)(3), the county auditor may |
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not make the results of the county auditor's investigation or a |
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report developed under Subsection (b)(1) available to the public |
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until the law enforcement agency's investigation is completed. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |