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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud, |
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waste, and abuse in programs administered by the Texas Workforce |
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Commission or by the commission's contractors or grantees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 301, Labor Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER L. PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD, |
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WASTE, AND ABUSE IN COMMISSION PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 301.201. PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND INVESTIGATION OF |
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FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. (a) The commission shall develop: |
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(1) procedures to prevent, detect, and investigate |
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fraud, waste, and abuse in programs administered: |
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(A) by the commission; |
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(B) under contract with the commission; or |
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(C) by a person awarded a grant by the |
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commission; |
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(2) systems to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the |
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administration, provision, and delivery of programs described by |
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Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) methods for a person to report to the commission |
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fraud, waste, or abuse in the delivery of programs described by |
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Subdivision (1), including an option for: |
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(A) reporting through the commission's publicly |
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available Internet website; and |
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(B) anonymous reporting by an employee of the |
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commission. |
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(b) The commission may obtain any information or technology |
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necessary to enable the commission to meet its responsibilities |
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under this subchapter or other law in regard to the prevention, |
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detection, and investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in |
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commission programs. |
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(c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission |
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shall submit to the legislature a written report that includes for |
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each report of fraud, waste, or abuse in a program described by |
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Subsection (a)(1) received by the commission under this section in |
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the most recent calendar year: |
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(1) a copy of the report; |
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(2) any findings made by the commission in |
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investigating the report; and |
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(3) if fraud, waste, or abuse was found in |
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investigating the report, any actions taken by the commission to |
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resolve the matter. |
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(d) The commission may not terminate or otherwise retaliate |
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against an employee who in good faith reports to the commission |
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under this section fraud, waste, or abuse in the delivery of |
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programs described by Subsection (a)(1). |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall submit the |
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initial report required by Section 301.201(c), Labor Code, as added |
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by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |