89R15311 SCF-D     By: Olcott H.B. No. 4884       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the operation of a fraud, waste, and abuse hotline and a   duty to provide employees and the public with certain hotline   information.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.0043 to read as follows:          Sec. 38.0043.  POSTING FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE HOTLINE   INFORMATION. Each public school and open-enrollment charter school   shall prominently post the telephone number for the fraud, waste,   and abuse hotline established under Section 321.024, Government   Code, and information relating to reporting suspected fraud, waste,   and abuse to the hotline:                (1)  on the school's Internet website; and                (2)  in each physical administrative office maintained   by the school.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 321.024 to read as follows:          Sec. 321.024.  FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE HOTLINE; REPORT. (a)   The State Auditor shall operate a telephone hotline for submission   of reports of suspected fraud, waste, and abuse.          (b)  The State Auditor shall refer each submitted report of   suspected fraud, waste, or abuse to the appropriate state agency.   On receipt of the report, the state agency shall investigate the   suspected fraud, waste, or abuse and on completion of the   investigation disclose the results of the investigation to the   State Auditor.          (c)  Not later than September 1 of each odd-numbered year,   the State Auditor shall prepare and submit to the legislature and   each standing committee having jurisdiction over state agency   fraud, waste, and abuse a report summarizing:                (1)  any reports of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse   submitted to the hotline;                (2)  each state agency to which the State Auditor   referred for investigation a report of suspected fraud, waste, or   abuse; and                (3)  the results of any investigation conducted by a   state agency after referral of a report of suspected fraud, waste,   or abuse.          SECTION 3.  Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 674 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 674. INFORMATION RELATING TO FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE   HOTLINE          Sec. 674.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency"   has the meaning assigned by Section 2054.003.          Sec. 674.002.  REQUIRED INFORMATION ON FRAUD, WASTE, AND   ABUSE HOTLINE. A state agency shall provide to each new employee   the telephone number for the fraud, waste, and abuse hotline   established under Section 321.024 and information on the procedure   for submitting a report of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse to the   hotline.          SECTION 4.  Subchapter F, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 2054.139 to read as follows:          Sec. 2054.139.  REQUIRED POSTING OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE   HOTLINE INFORMATION. Each state agency and local government shall   prominently post the telephone number for the fraud, waste, and   abuse hotline established under Section 321.024 and information on   the procedure for submitting a report of suspected fraud, waste, or   abuse to the hotline:                (1)  on the agency's or local government's Internet   website; and                (2)  in each physical administrative office maintained   by the agency or local government.          SECTION 5.  Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows:          Sec. 180.011.  REQUIRED INFORMATION ON FRAUD, WASTE, AND   ABUSE HOTLINE. (a) In this section, "political subdivision" has   the meaning assigned by Section 180.008.          (b)  A political subdivision shall provide to each new   employee the telephone number for the fraud, waste, and abuse   hotline established under Section 321.024, Government Code, and   information on the procedure for submitting a report of suspected   fraud, waste, or abuse to the hotline.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.