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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of state property by state officers and |
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employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2203.004, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2203.004. REQUIREMENT TO USE STATE PROPERTY FOR STATE |
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PURPOSES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), state [State] |
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property may be used only for state purposes. A person may not |
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entrust state property to a state officer or employee or to any |
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other person if the property is not to be used for state purposes. |
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(b) A state officer or employee may use state property for |
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personal purposes only to the extent that: |
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(1) the use: |
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(A) is negligible, including use that would cause |
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only ordinary wear and tear; and |
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(B) does not: |
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(i) substantially damage state property; |
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(ii) involve a significant intrusion into |
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the officer's or employee's actual work time; or |
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(iii) serve a commercial purpose; |
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(2) if the state property being used is telephone or |
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computer services, the officer or employee reimburses the state for |
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any additional costs resulting from the use, such as charges for |
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personal long-distance phone calls; and |
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(3) if the state property being used is not described |
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by Subdivision (2), the use causes only a negligible expense, such |
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as the use of small amounts of office supplies. |
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(c) This section does not prohibit a state agency from |
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adopting more stringent rules or regulations governing state |
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officer or employee use of state property. |
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(d) In using state property, a state officer or employee |
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shall protect and conserve the property to the extent practicable |
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and perform the officer's or employee's duties in good faith. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |