Relating to the administration, authority, and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission's office of inspector general.

HB 3271 modifies how Texas' Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General (OIG) operates. It allows the OIG to directly negotiate contracts with qualified experts for reviewing investigations without competitive bidding (similar to expert witness contracts), streamlines information sharing with state/local government entities for oversight purposes, and prohibits the OIG from conducting fingerprint background checks on Medicaid providers already licensed and in good standing. The bill primarily affects the OIG's administrative processes when reviewing health program compliance and provider eligibility. These changes aim to improve efficiency in oversight while limiting unnecessary checks for compliant providers.