HBA-JEK S.B. 288 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 288
By: Armbrister
Corrections
4/16/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The application of statutes that regulate the fiscal operation of community
supervision and corrections departments has led to confusion.  Senate Bill
288 provides for the appointment of a fiscal officer to manage and take
responsibility for the financial transactions of a community supervision
and corrections department. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 288 amends the Government Code to authorize a district judge or
judges to appoint a fiscal officer other than the county auditor to a
community supervision and corrections department (department). The bill
provides that the fiscal officer is responsible for ensuring that financial
transactions of the department are lawful and allowable, prescribing
accounting procedures for the department, and managing and protecting
funds, fees, state aid, and receipts to the same extent that a county
auditor manages county and other local entity funds.  If a judge appoints a
fiscal officer, the department is required to pay all costs related to the
functions of the fiscal officer. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 provides that a person be a financial officer,
rather than a competent account, to be eligible for the position of fiscal
officer.