TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Government Code, sec.571.091, to 
issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: the Government 
Code, Chapter 302; the Government Code, Chapter 305; the Government Code, 
Chapter 572; the Election Code, Title 15; the Penal Code, Chapter 36; and the 
Penal Code, Chapter 39.
Requests for copies of the full text of opinions or questions on particular 
submissions should be addressed to the Office of the Texas Ethics Commission, 
P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Ethics Commission Opinions
EAO-372. Questions about state employees' use of state-owned cellular phones, 
electronic mail, and Internet services. (AOR-409)
SUMMARY. Penal Code section 39.02 does not require state agencies to adopt 
policies absolutely prohibiting any personal use of telephones or computer 
services as long as the state is reimbursed for any direct costs incurred. In 
adopting policies about the use of agency equipment, agencies should make sure 
that any permissible personal use does not result in direct costs paid by the 
state and does not impede agency functions. Agency policies should also ensure 
that state resources are not used for private commercial purposes and that only 
incidental amounts of employee time--time periods comparable to reasonable 
coffee breaks during the day--are used to attend to personal matters.
EAO-373. Whether members of a state commission whose responsibilities and 
funding will terminate as of August 31, 1997, must file personal financial 
statements in 1998 and subsequent years. (AOR-410)
SUMMARY. Because the members of the board and the executive director of the 
Texas National Research Laboratory Commission will have no authority in 1998 and 
subsequent years, they will not be required to file the personal financial 
statement after 1997.
Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics 
Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 
463-5800.  
Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 11, 1997.
TRD-9712207
Tom Harrison
Executive Director
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: September 12, 1997