Bill Text: TX SB1577 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to efficiency audits of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-24 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB1577 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1577-Introduced.html
| 87R5270 MM-F | ||
| By: Kolkhorst | S.B. No. 1577 | |
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| relating to efficiency audits of the Department of Family and | ||
| Protective Services. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 40.045 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 40.045. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this | ||
| section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the | ||
| operations of the department to examine fiscal management, | ||
| efficiency, outcomes for children and families served by the | ||
| department, and utilization of resources. | ||
| (b) During the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, and | ||
| every fourth year after that date, the department shall conduct an | ||
| efficiency audit. | ||
| (c) In a year in which an efficiency audit is completed as | ||
| required by this section, the efficiency audit shall satisfy the | ||
| department's annual internal audit requirements under Chapter | ||
| 2102, Government Code. | ||
| (d) The department shall pay the costs associated with an | ||
| efficiency audit required under this section using money | ||
| appropriated for administrative and internal audit operations in | ||
| the state fiscal year the audit is conducted. | ||
| (e) If the department fails to conduct an efficiency audit | ||
| as required by this section, the amount appropriated to the | ||
| department by the legislature for the next state fiscal biennium | ||
| may not exceed the department's baseline budget. | ||
| (f) Not later than March 1 of the state fiscal year in which | ||
| an efficiency audit is required under this section, the | ||
| commissioner, in collaboration with the council, the department's | ||
| chief financial officer, and the department's internal audit | ||
| director, shall select an external auditor to conduct the | ||
| efficiency audit. | ||
| (g) The external auditor shall be independent of the | ||
| department's direction. | ||
| (h) The external auditor shall complete the audit not later | ||
| than the 90th day after the date the auditor is selected. | ||
| (i) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish the scope | ||
| of the efficiency audit and determine the areas of investigation | ||
| for the audit, including: | ||
| (1) reviewing the department's resources to determine | ||
| whether they are being used effectively and efficiently to achieve | ||
| desired outcomes for children and families served by the | ||
| department; | ||
| (2) identifying cost savings or reallocations of | ||
| resources; and | ||
| (3) identifying opportunities for improving services | ||
| through consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and | ||
| elimination of duplicative efforts. | ||
| (j) Not later than November 1 of the calendar year an | ||
| efficiency audit is conducted, the auditor shall prepare and submit | ||
| a report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency | ||
| improvements to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the | ||
| state auditor, the commissioner, the council, and the chairs of the | ||
| House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human | ||
| Services Committee. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
