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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. Section 531.102(t), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(t) At each quarterly meeting of any advisory council |
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responsible for advising the executive commissioner on the |
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operation of the commission, the inspector general shall submit a |
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report to the executive commissioner, the governor, and the |
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legislature on: |
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(1) the office's activities; |
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(2) the office's performance with respect to |
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performance measures established by the executive commissioner for |
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the office; |
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(3) fraud trends identified by the office; [and] |
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(4) any recommendations for changes in policy to |
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prevent or address fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of health |
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and human services in this state; and |
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(5) the amount of money recovered during the preceding |
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quarter as a result of investigations involving peace officers |
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employed and commissioned by the office for each program for which |
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the office has investigative authority. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. This Act does not authorize the Health and Human |
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Services Commission's office of inspector general to commission |
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additional peace officers. |
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SECTION 5. 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 6. 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. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 1, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2523 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 141 |
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, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2523 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays |
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7. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |