Bill Text: TX HB2523 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in certain public benefits programs by the office of inspector general for the Health and Human Services Commission.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-15 - Effective immediately [HB2523 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB2523-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2523 |
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relating to the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in certain | ||
public benefits programs by the office of inspector general for the | ||
Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 531.102(t), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(t) At each quarterly meeting of any advisory council | ||
responsible for advising the executive commissioner on the | ||
operation of the commission, the inspector general shall submit a | ||
report to the executive commissioner, the governor, and the | ||
legislature on: | ||
(1) the office's activities; | ||
(2) the office's performance with respect to | ||
performance measures established by the executive commissioner for | ||
the office; | ||
(3) fraud trends identified by the office; [ |
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(4) any recommendations for changes in policy to | ||
prevent or address fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of health | ||
and human services in this state; and | ||
(5) the amount of money recovered during the preceding | ||
quarter as a result of investigations involving peace officers | ||
employed and commissioned by the office for each program for which | ||
the office has investigative authority. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 31.045 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 31.045. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of | ||
inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the | ||
purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, | ||
waste, or abuse in the financial assistance program. A peace | ||
officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace officer | ||
for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 33.032 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 33.032. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of | ||
inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the | ||
purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, | ||
waste, or abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. | ||
A peace officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace | ||
officer for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act does not authorize the Health and Human | ||
Services Commission's office of inspector general to commission | ||
additional peace officers. | ||
SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the House on May 9, | ||
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 1, 2 present, not | ||
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
No. 2523 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141 | ||
, Nays 0, | ||
2 present, not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays | ||
7. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: __________________ | ||
Date | ||
__________________ | ||
Governor |