TITLE 31.NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION

Part 1. GENERAL LAND OFFICE

Chapter 3. PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILITY

31 TAC §3.1

The Texas General Land Office proposes new Chapter 3, relating to Property Accountability and a new §3.1, relating to Restrictions on Assignment of Vehicles.

House Bill 3125, 76th Legislature, 1999 required the General Services Commission and the Council on Competitive Government to develop a plan for improving the administration and operation of the state's vehicles. This plan was recently adopted. The bill further requires each state agency to adopt rules, consistent with the plan, relating to the assignment and use of the agency's vehicles. Section 3.1 is necessary to comply with House Bill 3125.

Larry Soward, Chief Clerk, has determined that for the first five-year period the new section is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the new section. There are no anticipated economic costs for persons required to comply with the section as proposed. There will be no significant impact on local economies or overall employment as a result of enforcing or administering the new section.

Mr. Soward has also determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing or administering the new section will be insuring efficient use of state resources for solely legitimate business purposes. There will be no effect on small businesses.

Written comments on the proposed new section may be submitted to Melinda Tracy, Texas Register Liaison, General Land Office of Texas P.O. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873. The deadline for receipt of comments is 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2001.

The new chapter and section are proposed under Natural Resources Code §31.051 which provides the Commissioner of the General Land Office with the authority to establish rules for the conduct of the work of the General Land Office, and more specifically, Government Code, §2171.1045, which requires the GLO to adopt rules relating to the assignment and use of GLO's vehicles.

No statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the proposed new chapter or section.

§3.1.Restrictions on Assignment of Vehicles.

(a)

Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

GLO--The General Land Office of Texas.

(2)

Commissioner--The Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas or the Commissioner's designee not below the level of division director.

(b)

Motor pool. Each GLO vehicle, with the exception of a vehicle assigned to a field employee, will be assigned to the GLO's motor pool and be available for checkout.

(c)

Regular vehicle assignment. The GLO may assign a vehicle to an individual administrative or executive employee on a regular or everyday basis only if the Commissioner makes a documented finding that the assignment is critical to the needs and mission of the department.

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 March 12, 2001.

TRD-200101467

Larry Soward

Chief Clerk

General Land Office

Earliest possible date of adoption: April 22, 2001

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