The State House is set to take up a bill that would require the TSSAA to submit an annual audited financial report to the state comptroller’s office.
The State Senate passed the bill late last month with 32 ayes and 0 nays.
Senator Paul Bailey sponsored the bill and said it brings oversight to the TSSAA, which is the only sports regulating authority in the state.
“We need to make sure they are fully accountable, especially when they are taking millions of dollars from our public school system,” Bailey said. “We need to just make sure that everything regarding taxpayer money is fully transparent.”
The measure also requires the TSSAA to comply with the open meetings law.
“There can’t be closed meetings, especially when we are dealing with taxpayer funding,” Bailey said. “Meetings need to be open and the public needs to have access to those meetings.”
At the discretion of the comptroller of the treasury, the audit may be prepared by a certified public accountant, a public accountant, or by the department of audit. If the entity fails or refuses to have the audit prepared, the comptroller of the treasury may appoint a certified public accountant or public accountant or direct the department to prepare the audit.
The State House takes up the bill next week.
