TITLE 31.NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION

Part 1. GENERAL LAND OFFICE

Chapter 1. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter A. VACANCIES

31 TAC §1.3

The General Land Office adopts the repeal of Chapter 1, Subchapter A, §1.3 relating to Fees without changes as proposed in the November 30, 2001, issue of the Texas Register (26 TexReg 9745). A new §3.31 relating to Fees is simultaneously being adopted under Chapter 3 relating to General Provisions. The adopted new rule §3.31 lists new services and activities provided by the agency and addresses all agency services and activities with more detail and accuracy. This adopted new rule informs the public of the services and activities that the agency presently offers and, by including all fees related to agency services and activities, provides the public with easier access to this information. In addition, the adopted new §3.31 adjusts various fees to reflect the costs associated with the agency's services and activities and the value of those services and activities.

No comments on the proposed repeal of §1.3 were received.

The repeal is adopted under Texas Natural Resources Code, §§31.051, 51.174 and 52.324, which provide the GLO with the authority to set and collect certain fees and to make and enforce rules consistent with the law.

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, and Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapters 31, 32, 51, and 52 are affected by the adopted repeal.

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 4, 2002.

General Land Office

Effective date: January 24, 2002

Proposal publication date: November 30, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 305-9129

Chapter 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subchapter C. SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

31 TAC §3.31

The General Land Office (GLO) adopts new Chapter 3, Subchapter C, §3.31 relating to Fees without changes to the text as published in the November 30, 2001, issue of the Texas Register (26 TexReg 9746). The repeal of Chapter 1, Subchapter A, §1.3 relating to Fees is simultaneously being adopted. The adopted new §3.31 lists new services and activities provided by the agency and addresses all agency services and activities with more detail and accuracy. The new Subchapter C, relating to Services and Products, is being adopted to contain any rules that relate to the services provided to the public by the GLO.

The adopted new §3.31 informs the public of the services and activities that the agency presently offers and, by including all fees related to agency services and activities, provides the public with easier access to this information. In addition, the new §3.31 adjusts various fees to reflect the costs associated with the agency's services and activities and the value of those services and activities. The rule also clarifies language that was in the previous §1.3, added new services available, and removed fees that are already covered in other areas of the Texas Administrative Code or are no longer provided by the GLO. The adopted new rule reflects a fair and reasonable schedule of fees and increased fees that were in §1.3 only when staff evaluated the costs of a particular service and determined the need for an increase in recovery costs. Some procedures for collecting fees have also been reevaluated and fees reduced when staff has determined that the lower fee can accomplish recovery of costs. The fees charged in §1.3 for services provided by the GLO will remain in effect until the effective date of the adopted repeal and the adoption of §3.31. Any increases in fees in the new §3.31 result from cost recovery studies performed by the GLO and were not mandated by the Legislature.

No comments were received regarding the proposed new rule.

The new rule is adopted under Texas Natural Resources Code, §§31.051, 51.174 and 52.324 which provides the GLO with the authority to set and collect certain fees and to make and enforce rules consistent with the law.

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, and Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapters 31, 32, 51, and 52 are affected by the adopted new rule.

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 4, 2002.

General Land Office

Effective date: January 24, 2002

Proposal publication date: November 30, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 305-9129