Sec. 771.076. AUDITS. (a) The commission or an employee of the commission may notify the comptroller of any irregularity that may indicate that an audit of a service provider collecting a fee or surcharge under this subchapter is warranted. The comptroller also may audit a service provider at the comptroller's discretion, without first receiving a notification from the commission or an employee of the commission. The cost of the audit shall not be assessed against the service provider. The commission may require at its own expense that an audit be conducted of a public agency receiving money under this chapter.

(b) If the comptroller conducts an audit of a service provider that collects and disburses fees or surcharges under this subchapter, the comptroller shall also audit those collections and disbursements to determine if the provider is complying with this chapter.

(c) At the request of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the state auditor may audit a regional planning commission or other public agency designated by the regional planning commission that receives money under this subchapter.

(d) The audit of a public agency under Subsection (a) or (c) must be limited to the collection, remittance, and expenditure of money collected under this subchapter.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1241, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1405, Sec. 28, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1158, Sec. 85, eff. Jan. 1, 2002.