Sec. 62.146. ACCOUNTING STANDARDS; VERIFICATION OF INFORMATION. (a) The coordinating board by rule shall prescribe standard methods of accounting and standard methods of reporting information for the purpose of determining:

(1) the eligibility of institutions under Section 62.145; and

(2) the amount of restricted research funds expended by an eligible institution in a state fiscal year.

(b) As soon as practicable in each state fiscal year, based on information submitted by the institutions to the coordinating board as required by the coordinating board, the coordinating board shall certify to the comptroller and the legislature verified information relating to the criteria established by Section 62.145 to be used to determine which institutions are eligible for distributions of money from the fund.

(c) Information submitted to the coordinating board by institutions for purposes of establishing eligibility under this subchapter and the coordinating board's certification or verification of that information under this section are subject to a mandatory audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code. The coordinating board may also request one or more audits by the state auditor as necessary or appropriate at any time after an eligible institution begins receiving distributions under this subchapter. Each audit must be based on an examination of all or a representative sample of the restricted research funds awarded to the institution and the institution's expenditures of those funds, and must include, among other elements:

(1) verification of the amount of restricted research funds expended by the institution in the appropriate state fiscal year or years; and

(2) verification of compliance by the institution and the coordinating board with the standard methods of accounting and standard methods of reporting prescribed by the coordinating board under Subsection (a), including verification of:

(A) the institution's compliance with the coordinating board's standards and accounting methods for reporting expenditures of restricted research funds; and

(B) whether the institution's expenditures meet the coordinating board's definition of restricted research expenditures.

(d) From money appropriated from the fund, the comptroller shall reimburse the state auditor for the expenses of any audits conducted under Subsection (c).

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 287 (H.B. 51), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2009.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1131 (H.B. 1000), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.