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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in certain |
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public benefits programs by the office of inspector general for the |
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Health and Human Services Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 31.045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.045. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of |
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inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the |
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purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, |
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waste, or abuse in the financial assistance program. A peace |
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officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace officer |
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for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.032. PEACE OFFICERS. The commission's office of |
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inspector general may employ and commission peace officers for the |
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purpose of assisting the office in the investigation of fraud, |
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waste, or abuse in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. |
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A peace officer employed and commissioned by the office is a peace |
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officer for purposes of Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |