Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1945 )

HonorableGee. Ii.Sheppard Comptrollerof Public Accounts Austin,Texas Dear Mr. Sheppard: OpinionHo. O-6756 Re: Conetructionof last rider accompanyingthe appropria- tion for the State Board of Educationand State Board of Vocational Education, specifically vith respect to the "StateAuditingCom- mittee." We beg to acknowledgereceiptof your letter requeetingan opin- ion from thia Department,as follows: "The laet paragraphof the rider under t)heappropriation for the eneuingbiewium for the State Board pf Educationand the State Board of VocationalEducationreeda'gefollowa: "'Allthe above appropriationshall be subjectto the ap- proval of the State AuditingCommitteeend none of the funds hereinprovidedshallbe epent until such approval.&all have been had.' "I presumethat the State AuditingCommitteemetitioned in the above quotedrider provisionis the LegielativeAudit Committeeae createdby Section2 of Senate Bill No. 27, Acts of the Regular Serslon,ofthe 48th Legielature. "1. If I am wrong in,thatpreeumption,then vhat con- stittites the State AuditingCotiittee? "2. May the State AuditingCommitteedelegatethe ap- '- of such funds to any member of the .provalof expetidityres Committee,or the State Auditor,or any other peraon?" We shall anewer your queetiansin their order,.& followB: ,; 1. We think you are correctin your aesumptionthat by the term "StateAuditingCommittee",the Legislaturemeant the "Legislative HonorableGeo. H. Sheppard- page 2 (O-6756) Audit Committee",as createdby Section2, SenateBill Ro. 27, Acts of the RegularSession,48th Legislature.We know of no suchbody,as "State AuditingCommittee". It appearsto be a calligraphice&or. 2. The requirementof the Legislatureis that the appropria- tions to which that rider pertainsshall not be spent until the State AuditingCommitteeshall have approvedthe appropriation.It 16 familiar law that where a board, court or legalbody whatsoeveris requiredor authorizedto act, it must do so as a body, that is, it may not be the act of the separateindividualscomposingthe board, court or body, act- ing in their individualcapacities. Moreover,it is furtherfamiliarlaw that no public officer, board, court or body whatsoevermay delegateits officialpower to another. The requiredaction must be that of the body acting as such. We expressno opinionas to the validityof this rider. Very truly yours APPROVEDAUG 13, 1945 ATl!OPEF.Y GENEBALOFTEXAS /s/ Carlo6 C. Ashley FIRST ASSISMR'I By /s/ Ocie Speer ATTORNEYGENERAL Ocie Speer Assistant OS-MR-LM THIS OPINION CONSIDEREDAND APPROVEDIN LIMITED CONFERENCN