Part 2.
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION
Chapter 20.
REPORTING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Subchapter A. GENERAL RULES
1 TAC §20.27, §20.29
The Texas Ethics Commission adopts new §20.27 concerning
electronic filing of telegram reports and new §20.29 concerning information
about out-of-state committees. The rules are adopted without changes to the
proposed text as published in the March 31, 2000, issue of the
Texas Register
(25 TexReg 2727) and will not be republished.
The new rules allow telegram reports to be filed with the Ethics Commission
by electronic transfer, §20.27, and authorize persons required to file
campaign finance reports by electronic transfer to file information about
contributions accepted from out-of-state political committees by electronic
transfer, §20.29. The reports will be easier to process, will be more
accessible to the public, and will allow persons who are required to file
campaign finance reports by electronic transfer to file all campaign finance
reports, including telegram reports, and information about contributions accepted
from out-of-state political committees in that manner.
No comments were received regarding adoption of these rules.
The new sections are adopted under Government Code, Chapter 571, §571.062,
which provides authorization, on the affirmative vote of at least six commission
members, to adopt rules to administer laws administered and enforced by the
commission.
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 July 3, 2000.
TRD-200004650
Tom Harrison
Executive Director
Texas Ethics Commission
Effective date: July 23, 2000
Proposal publication date: March 31, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800
1 TAC §20.225
The Texas Ethics Commission adopts an amendment to §20.225
concerning special session reports. The rule is adopted without changes to
the proposed text as published in the March 31, 2000, issue of the
Texas Register
(25 TexReg 2728) and will not be republished.
The amendment requires contributions reported in a special session report
to be again reported in the next applicable report. Special session reports
filed electronically will be easier to process and the information in the
special session reports will be more accessible to the public.
No comments were received regarding adoption of these rules.
The amendment is adopted under Government Code, Chapter 571, §571.062,
which provides authorization, on the affirmative vote of at least six commission
members, to adopt rules to administer laws administered and enforced by the
commission.
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 July 3, 2000.
TRD-200004651
Tom Harrison
Executive Director
Texas Ethics Commission
Effective date: July 23, 2000
Proposal publication date: March 31, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800
Chapter 117.
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
Subchapter A. MAIL AND MESSENGER SERVICES
1 TAC §117.31
The General Services Commission adopts amendments to Title
1, T.A.C., §117.31 concerning Mail and Messenger Services, and complying
with the requirements of the Texas Government Code, §2001.039 (relating
to Agency Review of Existing Rules). The amendments are adopted without changes
to the proposed text as published in the May 12, 2000, publication of the
The amendments to §117.31 are adopted in order to change the title
to Chapter 117 to "Support Services Division", to revise statutory citations
and to clarify language and existing procedures mandated by Texas Government
Code, Chapter 2176 and Texas Government Code, §2113.103.
The amendments to §117.31 updates statutory citations, improves clarifies
or improves readability of the language, and sets out existing procedures
as mandated by the Texas Government Code, §2113.103.
One commenter responded with the following comments. Following each comment
is the commission's response.
Comment: The proposed rule change would materially broaden the scope of §117.31(f)
by adding renting transactions when those transactions have not been previously
subject to the rule.
Response: The commission disagrees. As part of the rule review process,
language in existing rules is amended to reflect statutory requirements and
authority mandated by the legislature. The amendment to §117.31(f) reflects
statutory requirements found in Texas Government Code, Chapter 2176 - Mail,
and Texas Government Code §2113.103 - Postage and Postal Services. By
law, provided for in Texas Government Code, §§2176.002 and 2176.003,
2176.102 and 2176.104 the General Services Commission is charged with the
authority to evaluate the mail operations in state agencies located in Travis
County and to make recommendations to identify and eliminate practices resulting
in excessive mail costs. This includes the responsibility to evaluate the
impact of equipment procurements in order to determine if the equipment the
agencies are requesting to procure lease or rent through purchase, may result
in excessive mail costs. Specifically, agencies seeking meter rentals must
consider the cost and the compatibility of the meter with other agency mailing
machines. Texas Government Code, §2113.103, codified by the 76th Legislature
also directs state agencies, including an institution of higher education,
the legislature, or an agency in the legislative branch of state government
to rent a postage meter machine from a company that has been approved by the
General Services Commission. The General Services Commission has been conducting
review of state mail equipment procurements, except renewals, since S.B. 381
(73rd Leg. Reg. Session) became effective in 1993. The amendment clarifies
that upgrades and actions that affect agency mail practices under §2176.104
can occur as a result of rentals as well as purchases. Therefore, the amendment
is a reflection or clarification of current statutory requirements and authority
of the General Services Commission that have been in effect.
Comment: The notice is invalid because it fails to provide the analysis
on the impact on small businesses as required by law; local employment impact
statement as required by law; and a certification that the rule has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the GSC's authority to adopt.
Response. The commission disagrees. Texas Government Code, §2006.002
indicates that an adverse economic effect on small business exists if there
is a cost for compliance with the rule for small businesses. There is no associated
cost to small businesses for compliance with the rule. Therefore, as is stated
in the proposed preamble for §117.31 there is no adverse effect on small
or large businesses/and or persons. Therefore, there is no local employment
impact.
The proposed rules were published in the May 12, 2000 issue of the
Pitney Bowes Inc. - Against
The amendments to §117.31 are adopted under the authority
of the Texas Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, §§2152.003 and
2176.110 which provides the General Services Commission with the authority
to promulgate rules necessary to implement the sections.
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 July 7, 2000.
TRD-200004736
Ann Dillon
General Counsel
General Services Commission
Effective date: July 27, 2000
Proposal publication date: May 12, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 463-3960
1 TAC §117.41
The General Services Commission adopts amendments to Title
1, T.A.C., §117.41 concerning Business Machine Repair Services. The amendments
will change the title of Chapter 117 to the "Support Services Division". The
amendments are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in
the May 12, 2000, issue of the
Texas Register
(25 TexReg 4255). The text will not be republished.
The amendments to §117.41 are adopted in order to delete obsolete
language and to clarify procedures.
The amendments to §117.41 change the title of Chapter 117 to the "Support
Services Division", revise statutory citations, updates the terminology for
"voucher" to "interagency transaction voucher" and clarifies procedures.
No comments have been received concerning the proposed amendments to §117.41.
The amendments are adopted under the authority of the Texas Government
Code, Title 10, Subtitle D, §§2152.003 and 2172.002 which provides
the General Services Commission with the authority to promulgate rules necessary
to implement the section.
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 July 7, 2000.
TRD-200004737
Ann Dillon
General Counsel
General Services Commission
Effective date: July 27, 2000
Proposal publication date: May 12, 2000
For further information, please call:
Subchapter C. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR A CANDIDATE
Part 5.
GENERAL SERVICES COMMISSION
Subchapter B. BUSINESS MACHINE REPAIR
Chapter 121.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES DIVISION