Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1984 )

The Attorney General of Texas
O,:~:ober
23. 1984
JIM MATTOX
AttorneyGeneral
Mr. Homer A. Foerswr Opinion No. JM-214
Supreme Court Buildin
Fxecutive Director
P. 0. Box 12546 State Purchasing auc!General Re: Whether the State Purchas-
Austin. TX. 76711. 2546 Services Commisr~ioa ing and General Services Com-
5121475.2501 L.B.J. State Offlct!Building mission may use excess funds
Telex 9101674.1387
Telecopier 5121475.0266
P.O. Box 13047, CallitolStation appropriated for construction
Austin, Texas 78; I1 of a parking garage to fund
additional construction of the
774 Jackson. Suite 700 Travis Building
Dallas. TX. 75202.4506
2141742.6944
Dear Mr. Foerster:
4S24 Afberla Ave.. Suite 160 You ask whett,er the State Purchasing and General Senrices
El Paso. TX. 793052793 Commission may use excess funds appropriated for construction of a
9 I515353464 parking garage to fund additional construction to the Trsvis Building.
Jl Texas. Suite 700
The 1982-83 General Appropriations Act, Acts 1981, 67th Leg., ch.
P’ouston. TX. 77002-3111 875, art. I. at 3488 (A.B. 656). appropriated $25 million for
71312235666 “[Clonstruction of new State Office Building.” (item 9). The 1984-85
General Appropriatloas Act, Acts 1983. 68th Leg., ch. 1095, art. I, at
5893 (S.B. 179). ccntains the following riders:
806 Broadway. Suite 312
Lubbock. TX. 79401.3479
6061747.5238 10. Any unobligated balances remaining as of August 31,
1983, in appwpriatlons made to the State Purchasing and
General Services Commission by Acts of the Sixty-seventh
4309 N. Tenth. Suite 8
Legislature, Ixgular Session, 1981, for Capital Acquisition,
McAllen. TX. 76501.1665
5 121662-4547‘ Construction, Repairs and Renovation, Item 10. and by riders,
are hereby reappropriated for the same purpose and subject to
the same restrictions for the biennium beginning September 1,
2M) Main Plaza. Suite 400
1983.
San Antonio. TX. 78205.2797
51v2254191
For the Years Ending
August 31. August 31.
A” Equal Opportunityl 1984 1985
Affirmative Action E~*plova’
Informational sub-listing of
projects to be funded from Items
10.b and 10.~ (Construction.
Repairs and Renovations)
A. Construct Permaneat Parking
Structure, Capitol Complex $ 7.857,081 $ U.B.
B. Fire/Safety Deficiency Correc-
tions, Capitol Complex 575,611 U.B.
p. 962
Mr,.Homer A. Foerster - Page 2 (JM-214)
C. Remove and Stabilj,zeCeiling,
Starr Building 324,113 U.B.
D. Remove and Stabill.zeCeiling,
Supreme Court BullC~ing 995,292 U.B.
E. Fire/Security Alam System,
Starr Building 27.110 U.B.
F. Relocation of Meche.nicalFaclli-
ties, Governor's Fbnsion 38.141 U.B.
G. Seal Exterior, Jor~c:s
Building 91,831 U.B.
H. Repair Leaking Pat:ios,Reagan
and LBJ Buildings 207,519 U.B.
I. Replace Roofing, Supreme Court
Building 106.688 U.B.
J. Replace Carpet, Austin Bullding 219,160 U.B.
K. Energy Conservation Measures,
Capitol Complex 473,427 U.B.
L. Replace Gas Turbine Chiller with
Electric Drive, Austin Building 490,427 U.B.
M. Seal Areaway Open:.ngs,Capitol 65,523 U.B.
N. Purchase of Land and Construction
of Haagars. Ramps Office and
Maintenance Facil:Lt:ies,Aircraft
Pooling Board 3.054.239 U.B.
0. Miscellaneous Pro:iects,Not to
Exceed $3,300 each Capitol Complex 100,000 U.B.
Renovate French Lqation 35,000 U.B.
;: Repairs to Permanwt Parking
Structures, Capit0:lComplex 74,102 U.B. r
GRAND TOTAL, C0IISTRUCTION.
REPAIRS AbD X10,
supra. *, a project fuuded under item 9 of the 1982-83 General
Appropriations Act. As a e.zsult,the balance of the $25 million which
remained unobligated on Auf;ust 31, 1983. was reappropriated for con-
struction of the Travis Bu:Llding for the 1984-85 biennium. Rider 11
in the 1984-85 General Appr.opriationsAct authorizes the commission to
"deviate from the exact suus for each project as may be necessary to
fund any project." If "any project" includes the further construction
of the Travis Building described in rider 10, it follows that funds
may be transferred from rider 10A. authorizing construction of a
"permanent parking structure.u for use on the Travis Building.
p. 963
Mr. Homer A. Foerster - Page!3 (JM-214)
Rider 11 does not inclcate any legislative intent to restrict
transfer of funds to or from those items listed in riders 10A-Q.
Indeed, it specifically pernlts deviation for “each project.” In our
opinion, this language includes any project authorized by the commis-
sion’s 1984-85 appropriation. Since completion of the Travis Building
is provided for in rider lo!,we believe it constitutes such a project.
To construe rider 11 othenrj.sewould be to thwart completion of the
Travis Building, when authorized unexpended funds exist from another,
already completed, project. We do not address whether funds may be
transferred under rider 11 :lf the specific projects in riders 10A-Q
from which transfer Is contemplated were not completed. We do not
believe the legislature cou:.cl
have intended this result. Accordingly,
the State Purchasing and G#zneral Services Commission may use excess
funds appropriated for co~;truction of a parking garage to fund
additional construction of the Travis Building.
SUMMARY
The State Puc:hasing and General Services
Commission is authorized to use excess f.unds
appropriated during the 1984-85 biennium for a
parking garage to fund additional construction of
the Travis Building;.
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General of Texas
TOM GREEN
First Assistant Attorney Gewral
DAVID R. RICBARDS
Executive Assistant Attome), General
RICK GILPIN
Chairman, Opinion Committee
Prepared by Rick Gilpin
Assistant Attorney General
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE
Rick Gilpin, Chairman
Colin Carl
Susan Garrison
Tony Guillory
Jim Moellinger
Nancy Sutcon
P. 964