State agencies that require local-government reports must review and reduce reporting burdens, avoid requiring reports not required by law or rule, and follow special rules for audits and audit costs.
Sec. 783.010. STATE AGENCY REPORTING AND AUDITING COORDINATION. (a) A state agency that requires reports of local governments shall, during the second year of each state biennium, conduct a zero-based review of reporting requirements imposed on local governments and shall simplify the reporting requirements and determine and eliminate unnecessary, duplicative, or overly burdensome reporting requirements. (b) Based on the results of these reviews, the state agency shall recommend to the legislature statutory changes to minimize cost, duplication, and paperwork and to maximize the efficient and effective use of public funds. (c) A state agency may not require local governments to submit reports on items not required by law, rule, or performance measures. (d) To achieve greater efficiency in the use of governmental funds expended on governmental audits, a state agency, except as shown necessary to further protect public funds, shall: (1) accept, and not duplicate with state resources, an independent audit of a local government if it is performed by a certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards and the standards of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board; (2) at the time of approval of a contract with or a grant to a local government, specify any special or unique auditing requirements that must be performed by the local government's independent auditors; and (3) as may be allowed by law or rule, provide in the contract or grant award for the payment of costs incurred by the local government in complying with any special or unique auditing requirements not required by generally accepted governmental auditing standards or the standards of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a state agency to monitor or audit a local government's expenditure of state or federal funds received via contract or grant. (f) The state auditor may audit for compliance with these provisions. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 723, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003. SUBCHAPTER B. STATE ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES