Bill Text: TX SB657 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to regular efficiency audits of public benefits programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB657 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB657-Introduced.html
| By: Springer | S.B. No. 657 | |
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| relating to regular efficiency audits of public benefits programs. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 2, Subtitle C, Chapter 31, Human Resources | ||
| Code, is amended by adding Section 31.019 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 34.019. EFFICIENCY AUDIT. (a) For purposes of this | ||
| section, "efficiency audit" means an investigation of the | ||
| implementation and administration of the Temporary Assistance for | ||
| Needy Families program established under Part A, Subchapter IV, | ||
| Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) and the State | ||
| Temporary Assistance and Support Services Program authorized by | ||
| Chapter 34, Human Resources Code for the purpose of assessing the | ||
| fiscal management of the program, efficiency of resource | ||
| utilization, and effectiveness of state efforts at achieving the | ||
| four goals of the program as enumerated in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 601(a). | ||
| (b) The State Auditor shall be responsible for ensuring that | ||
| the efficiency audit is conducted in accordance with the | ||
| requirements of this Section. | ||
| (c) The initial efficiency audit shall be conducted in | ||
| fiscal year 2022 with subsequent audits occurring every six years | ||
| during the even-numbered year immediately preceding the convening | ||
| of a regular session of the legislature. | ||
| (d) The Health and Human Services Commission, as | ||
| administrator for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families | ||
| program in Texas, shall pay for costs associated with an efficiency | ||
| audit out of existing resources. | ||
| (e) The State Auditor shall select a third-party auditor to | ||
| conduct an efficiency audit under this section no later than six | ||
| months before the end of the fiscal year in which an efficiency | ||
| audit is required. | ||
| (f) The third-party auditor must maintain independence from | ||
| all departments subject to evaluation and those receiving or | ||
| expending funds under the TANF program. | ||
| (g) The third-party auditor shall complete the audit not | ||
| later than three months after the date the auditor was engaged. | ||
| (h) The Legislative Budget Board shall establish guidelines | ||
| identifying the scope and areas of investigation of an efficiency | ||
| audit, including identification of: | ||
| (1) resources being used effectively and efficiently | ||
| to achieve desired outcomes for program beneficiaries; | ||
| (2) resources being used for purposes other than the | ||
| intended goals of the TANF program; | ||
| (3) potential cost savings or reallocations; and | ||
| (4) opportunities for improving services through | ||
| consolidation of essential functions, outsourcing, and elimination | ||
| of duplicative efforts. | ||
| (i) The third-party auditor shall prepare and submit a | ||
| report of the audit and recommendations for efficiency improvements | ||
| before November 1 of the year the audit is conducted to the | ||
| governor, the Legislative Budget Board, the State Auditor, the | ||
| commissioners of each state department reviewed, and the chairs of | ||
| the House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human | ||
| Services Committee. The report, recommendations, and full audit | ||
| shall also be posted to the public websites of the State Auditor and | ||
| Health and Human Services Commission. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
