TITLE 31.NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION

Part 17. TEXAS STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD

Chapter 517. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Subchapter A. CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE

31 TAC §517.11

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board proposes an amendment to 31 TAC §517.11 concerning audits of district records including authority of the State Board, power to withhold funds and setting filing requirements.

Bobbie Stephens, Assistant Executive Director Administration, has determined that there will not be any fiscal implications as a result of enforcing or administering this rule.

There will be no effect on state government for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect.

There will be no effect on local government for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect.

There is no anticipated effect on small or mircro-businesses.

Bobbie Stephens, Assistant Executive Director Administration has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule as proposed is in effect the public benefit will be more timely filing of financial reports by soil and water conservation districts. There is no estimated economic cost to individuals required to comply with the rule as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Robert G. Buckley, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, P.O. Box 658, Temple, TX 76503.

The amendment is proposed under Chapter 201.020, Agriculture Code which provides the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board with the authority to adopt rules as necessary for the performance of its functions under the Agriculture Code.

No other statues, articles or codes are affected by this amendment.

§517.11. Audits.

The State Board shall have access to all district records for the purpose of verifying compliance with the provisions of this subchapter and other state requirements. The State Board [ state board ] may withhold funds under this subchapter from districts found to be in violation of this subchapter or other state requirements and may require districts to reimburse the State Board [ state board ] for funds claimed and received in violation of this subsection or other state requirements. Any district which has not met the filing requirements of §525.7 of this title [ submitted three copies of its biennial audit to the state board's Temple office by January 1, following each audit period as specified in the Agriculture Code of Texas, §201.080(d), ] will not receive conservation assistance funds under this subchapter until such reports [ audits ] are received in the Temple office.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on January 20, 2000.

TRD-200000389

Robert G. Buckley

Executive Director

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

Earliest possible date of adoption: March 5, 2000

For further information, please call: (254) 773-2250