bill making agencies ask the comptroller before taking federal money

The text as introduced · 510 words

89R8521 CS-D

By: Harris Davila
H.B. No. 2832

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring the approval of the comptroller of public

accounts before a state agency may accept federal money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 10, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 2118 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 2118. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL MONEY

BY STATE AGENCIES

Sec. 2118.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency"

means an agency, department, commission, bureau, board, office,

council, court, or other entity that is in any branch of state

government and that is created by the constitution or a statute of

this state. The term includes an institution of higher education as

defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Sec. 2118.002. REQUEST TO ACCEPT FEDERAL MONEY. (a) Except

as provided by Subsection (c), a state agency may not accept federal

money unless the agency first submits to the comptroller a request

to accept the money and the comptroller approves the request.

(b) A request by a state agency under Subsection (a) must

include:

(1) a detailed description of each condition or

limitation that will be imposed on the agency if the agency accepts

the money; and

(2) an estimate of the cost to implement the

conditions and limitations described by Subdivision (1).

(c) A state agency is not required to submit a request to the

comptroller to accept federal money if:

(1) the agency previously submitted a request to

accept federal money from the same source and for the same purposes

to the comptroller under Subsection (a);

(2) the comptroller approved the previously submitted

request; and

(3) no conditions or limitations other than those

described in the previously submitted request will be imposed on

the agency if the agency accepts the federal money, as determined by

the agency.

Sec. 2118.003. COMPTROLLER REVIEW. (a) The comptroller

shall review and approve or deny a request received under Section

2118.002 as soon as practicable after receipt.

(b) The comptroller shall communicate to a state agency the

approval or denial of a request submitted by the agency under

Section 2118.002 before the passing of any applicable federal

deadline regarding receipt of the money of which the comptroller is

made aware in the request.

Sec. 2118.004. COPY OF REQUEST FOR CERTAIN OFFICIALS. On

receipt of a request under Section 2118.002, the comptroller shall

provide a copy of the request to the governor, the lieutenant

governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the

chairs of the standing legislative committees with primary

jurisdiction over appropriations.

Sec. 2118.005. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules

necessary to administer this chapter, including a rule prescribing

the form to be used by a state agency for purposes of making a

request under Section 2118.002.

SECTION 2. Chapter 2118, Government Code, as added by this

Act, applies only to federal money made available for receipt by a

state agency on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.