TITLE administration

Part IV. Office of the Secretary of State

Chapter 81. Elections

Subchapter A. Voter Registration

1 TAC §81.7

The Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division, adopts an amendment to §81.7, concerning the directive for high school deputy registrar, without changes to the proposed text as published in the August 21, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 8597).

The amended rule adopts the most recent version of the directive and shifts the responsibility for providing high school deputy registrars with a copy of the directive from county voter registrars to the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Election Code, Chapter 31, Subchapter A, § 31.003, which provides the Secretary of State with authority to promulgate rules to obtain uniformity in the interpretation and application of the Code, and under the Code, Chapter 13, § 13.046(h), which authorizes the Secretary of State to prescribe additional procedures for high school deputy registrars.

The Code, Chapter 13, is affected by the adopted amendment.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 13, 1999.

TRD-9900177

Jeff Eubank

General Counsel

Office of the Secretary of State

Effective date: February 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: August 21, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5701


Subchapter D. Voting Systems Certification

1 TAC §81.62

The Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division, adopts a new rule, §81.62, concerning audit logs for automatic tabulating equipment with changes to the proposed text as published in the July 10, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 7159).

The text as originally published has been amended to clarify a requirement that the audit log identify which imput port is being used to upload election data from voting precincts.

The new rule is adopted to require automatic tabulating voting equipment to include a continuous feed printer dedicated to a real-time audit log to be eligible for certification in the state of Texas.

Herbert Fensury of Computing Devices Canada (CDC) commented on the proposed rule, asking for clarification of the meaning of subsection (b)(4). In response, we have amended the original language to state that the audit log must detail which imput port on a vote tabulation device is used to upload election data from a precinct-based modem.

Mr. Fensury also asked for confirmation that the proposed rule's log requirements are limited to vote tabulation devices such as CDC's Election Central Subsystem and does not require a printed audit log for precinct voting devices or ballot preparation software. We believe that the rule as originally drafted is clearly limited to voting tabulation devices and no changes were made as a result of this comment.

The new rule is adopted under the Code, Chapter 31, Subchapter A, §31.003, which provides the Secretary of State with authority to promulgate rules to obtain uniformity in the interpretation and application of the Code, and under the Code, Chapter 122, §122.001(c), which authorizes the Secretary of State to prescribe additional standards for voting systems.

The Code, Chapter 122, §122.001, is affected by this rule.

§81.62.Use of Audit Logs in Automatic Tabulation Equipment.

(a)

For any voting tabulation device, or any modification to a voting tabulation device, to be certified for use in Texas elections, the device shall include a continuous feed printer dedicated to a real-time audit log. All significant election events and their date and time stamps shall be printed to the audit log.

(b)

The definition of "significant election events" in subsection (a) of this rule includes but is not limited to:

(1)

error messages and operator response to those messages;

(2)

number of ballots read for a given precinct;

(3)

completion of reading ballots for a given precinct;

(4)

identity of the input ports used for modem transfers from precincts;

(5)

users logging in and out from election system;

(6)

precincts being zeroed;

(7)

reports being generated; and

(8)

diagnostics of any type being run.

(c)

The audit log for an election shall be retained by the custodian of election records for the appropriate preservation period.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 11, 1999.

TRD-9900126

Jeff Eubank

General Counsel

Office of the Secretary of State

Effective date: January 31, 1999

Proposal publication date: July 10, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5701


Part V. General Services Commission

Chapter 115. Building and Property Services Division

Subchapter A. State Owned Property

1 TAC §115.7

The General Services Commission adopts the repeal of Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, §115.7 concerning burial in the Texas State Cemetery, without changes to the proposed repeal as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12023).

The adoption of the repeal of §115.7 deletes obsolete language that resulted from the creation of the Texas State Cemetery Committee ("Committee") by Senate Bill 973, 75th Legislation, 1997. The Committee has adopted rules under Title XIII, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 71 for the administration of the Texas State Cemetery.

The repeal of §115.7 deletes obsolete language.

No comments were received regarding the repeal of §115.7

The repeal of §115.7 is adopted under the Texas Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Section 2152.003, which provides the General Services Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Subtitle D.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900153

Judy Ponder

General Counsel

General Services Commission

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Part XVI. State Council on Competitive Government

Chapter 401. Administration

The State Council on Competitive Government adopts amendments to Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, Part XVI, Chapter 401 under Subchapter A-Sections 401.1 - 401.4, concerning General Rules; Subchapter B - Sections 401.21-401.28, concerning Council Meeting Guidelines and Requirements; Subchapter C - Sections 401.42-401.49, concerning Identification and Review of State Services; Subchapter D - Section 401.61 and §401.62, concerning Evaluation of Proposals ; Subchapter E - Section 401.81 and §401.82, concerning Duties of Affected Agencies; and Subchapter F - Sections 401.102-401.104, concerning Monitoring of Services. The Council also adopts under Subchapter F, a new §401.105, relating to Contract Modification Notification by Contracting Agency to the Council. The amendments and new section are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12023).

The adoption of amendments and new rule section to Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, Part XVI, Chapter 401 will improve efficiency due to clarification of language.

The amendments are adopted in order to clarify existing language and to update reference to the State Council on Competitive Governments statutory citation under the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2162. The new rule section is being adopted to clarify an executing agency's responsibilities regarding a contract.

No comments were received regarding adoption of amendments to Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, Part XVI, Chapter 401 and new section 401.105.

Subchapter A. General Rules

1 TAC §§401.1-401.4

The amendments and new section to Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, Part XVI, Chapter 401 are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900157

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Subchapter B. Council Meeting Guidelines and Requirements

1 TAC §§401.21-401.28

These amendments are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900158

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Subchapter C. Identification and Review of State Services

1 TAC §§401.42-401.49

These amendments are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900159

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Subchapter D. Evaluation of Proposals

1 TAC §401.61, §401.62

These amendments are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900160

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Subchapter E. Duties of Affected Agencies

1 TAC §401.81, §401.82

These amendments are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900161

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960


Subchapter F. Monitoring of Services

1 TAC §§401.102-401.105

These amendments and new section are adopted under the Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, Chapter 2162, Subchapter B, Section 2162.101 - General Powers - which provide the State Council on Competitive Government with the authority to adopt a rule governing any aspect of the Council's duties or responsibilities.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 12, 1999.

TRD-9900162

Chester Beattie

Legal Counsel

State Council on Competitive Government

Effective date: February 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960