The commission must create fraud-prevention procedures, detection systems, and reporting methods for covered programs, report annually to the legislature by September 1, and not retaliate against good-faith employee whistleblowers.
Sec. 301.201. PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE. (a) The commission shall develop: (1) procedures to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in programs administered: (A) by the commission; (B) under contract with the commission; or (C) by a person awarded a grant by the commission; (2) systems to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration, provision, and delivery of programs described by Subdivision (1); and (3) methods for a person to report to the commission fraud, waste, or abuse in the delivery of programs described by Subdivision (1), including an option for: (A) reporting through the commission's publicly available Internet website; and (B) anonymous reporting by an employee of the commission. (b) The commission may obtain any information or technology necessary to enable the commission to meet its responsibilities under this subchapter or other law in regard to the prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in commission programs. (c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission shall submit to the legislature a written report that includes for each report of fraud, waste, or abuse in a program described by Subsection (a)(1) received by the commission under this section in the most recent calendar year: (1) a copy of the report; (2) any findings made by the commission in investigating the report; and (3) if fraud, waste, or abuse was found in investigating the report, any actions taken by the commission to resolve the matter. (d) The commission may not terminate or otherwise retaliate against an employee who in good faith reports to the commission under this section fraud, waste, or abuse in the delivery of programs described by Subsection (a)(1). Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 280 (H.B. 3700), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.