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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to efficiency audits of the Temporary Assistance for Needy |
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Families program and the state temporary assistance and support |
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services program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.005522 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.005522. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of |
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this section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the |
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implementation and administration of the federal Temporary |
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Assistance for Needy Families program operated under Chapter 31, |
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Human Resources Code, and the state temporary assistance and |
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support services program operated under Chapter 34, Human Resources |
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Code, to examine fiscal management, efficiency of the use of |
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resources, and the effectiveness of state efforts in achieving the |
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goals of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program |
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described under 42 U.S.C. Section 601(a). |
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(b) In 2022 and every sixth year after that year, an |
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external auditor selected under Subsection (e) shall conduct an |
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efficiency audit. |
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(c) The commission shall pay the costs associated with an |
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efficiency audit required under this section using existing |
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resources. |
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(d) The state auditor shall ensure that the external auditor |
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conducts the efficiency audit in accordance with the requirements |
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of this section. |
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(e) Not later than March 1 of the year in which an efficiency |
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audit is required under this section, the state auditor shall |
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select an external auditor to conduct the efficiency audit. |
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(f) The external auditor shall be independent and not |
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subject to direction from: |
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(1) the commission; or |
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(2) any other state agency subject to evaluation by |
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the auditor for purposes of this section or that receives or spends |
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money under the programs described by Subsection (a). |
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(g) The external auditor shall complete the audit not later |
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than the 90th day after the date the auditor is selected. |
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(h) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish the scope |
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of the efficiency audit and determine the areas of investigation |
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for the audit, including: |
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(1) reviewing the resources dedicated to a program |
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described by Subsection (a) to determine whether those resources: |
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(A) are being used effectively and efficiently to |
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achieve desired outcomes for individuals receiving benefits under a |
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program; and |
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(B) are not being used for purposes other than |
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the intended goals of the applicable program; |
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(2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of |
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resources; and |
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(3) identifying opportunities for improving services |
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through consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and |
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elimination of duplicative efforts. |
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(i) Not later than November 1 of the year an efficiency |
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audit is conducted, the external auditor shall prepare and submit a |
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report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency improvements |
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to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the state auditor, |
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the executive commissioner, and the chairs of the House Human |
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Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services |
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Committee. The executive commissioner and the state auditor shall |
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publish the report, recommendations, and full audit on the |
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commission's and the state auditor's Internet websites. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |