Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 161.014. EMPLOYEES. (a) The commissioner may employ all other employees that may be necessary for the discharge of the board's duties. The employees may include stenographers, typists, bookkeepers, surveyors, appraisers, and other employees in the number and for the time nec…

Sec. 161.0141. SEPARATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The board shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the management responsibilities of the executive secretary, assistant executive secretary, and staff of the boar…

Sec. 161.015. COMPENSATION AND DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES. The employees of the board shall be paid their compensation and shall perform their duties with the same rules and requirements of the general law governing other state employees in those respects. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2656,…

Sec. 161.016. FISCAL AGENT. (a) The board may designate the comptroller as the fiscal agent for payment of principal of and interest on the bonds. (b) The comptroller shall act as fiscal agent without compensation. (c) In the alternative, the board may employ a private fiscal age…

Sec. 161.017. MEETINGS OF BOARD. (a) When necessary, the board shall meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the land office, where its session shall be held and continue until its docket is cleared. The board may recess at its own discretion. (b) The chairman of th…

Sec. 161.018. MINUTES OF BOARD. Minutes of each meeting of the board shall be kept, and only those matters that actually transpire at the meeting shall be entered in the minutes. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2656, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.019. DEPOSITORY FOR PAPERS, RECORDS, AND ARCHIVES. Papers, records, and archives of the board shall be deposited and kept in the land office. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2656, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.020. PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES. The board may purchase at state expense through the comptroller supplies, including stationery, stamps, printing, record books, and other things that may be needed to carry on the board's functions as a state agency in performing the duties imp…

Sec. 161.021. SEAL. The board shall procure and adopt a seal bearing the words "Veterans Land Board" encircled by the oak and olive branches common to other official seals. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2656, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.022. CHAPTER APPLICATION TO SUCCESSOR BOARDS. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any successor of the board. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2657, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.023. TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies with this section. (b…

Sec. 161.024. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with…

Sec. 161.025. EQUAL PROTECTION FOR BOARD MEMBERS. Appointments to the board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 798, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by: Acts …

Sec. 161.026. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER. (a) It is a ground for removal from the board if an appointed member: (1) does not have at the time of appointment the qualifications required by Article III, Section 49-b, of the Texas Constitution for appointment to the board; (2) does not…

Sec. 161.028. CAREER LADDER. (a) The executive secretary or his designee shall develop an intraagency career ladder program, one part of which shall require the intraagency posting of all nonentry level positions concurrently with any public posting. (b) The program and posting r…

Sec. 161.029. PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. (a) The executive secretary or his designee shall develop a system of annual performance evaluations based on measurable job tasks. All merit pay for board employees must be based on the system established under this section. (b) The evaluat…

Sec. 161.030. AUDIT. The financial transactions of the board are subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 798, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 584, Sec. 8, eff. Sept.…

Sec. 161.0301. INTERNAL AUDITOR. An internal auditor who performs an audit function for the board shall: (1) submit to the board any parts of the applicable internal audit plan that relate to the board; and (2) report to the board regarding the results of any internal audits that…

Sec. 161.031. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. (a) The executive secretary or his or her designee shall prepare and maintain a written plan to assure implementation of a program of equal employment opportunity whereby all personnel transactions are made without regard to race, color…

Sec. 161.032. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. (a) The board shall provide to its members and employees as often as is necessary information regarding their qualifications under this chapter and their responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers…

Sec. 161.033. PUBLIC DEBATE BEFORE BOARD. The board shall develop and implement policies that will provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the board. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 798, Se…

Sec. 161.034. COMPLAINTS. (a) The board shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the board. The board shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the review or …

Sec. 161.035. USE OF TECHNOLOGY. The board shall implement a policy requiring the board to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the board's ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the public is able to interact with the board on the Internet. A…

Sec. 161.036. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING; ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) The board shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of: (1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, for the adoption of board rules; and (2) appropriate alternat…

Sec. 161.061. GENERAL DUTIES OF BOARD. The board shall: (1) authorize and execute negotiable bonds as provided by law; (2) provide by resolution for use of the fund in a manner that will effectuate the intent of the constitution and the law; (3) prescribe the interest rates as pr…

Sec. 161.062. GENERAL DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER. The commissioner is the chairman of the board and administrator of the program as provided in Article III, Section 49-b of the Texas Constitution, and shall perform the duties and functions of the board prescribed by law except for th…

Sec. 161.063. RULES. (a) The board may adopt rules that are not inconsistent with this chapter and that it considers necessary or advisable. The board shall adopt rules and procedures that it considers necessary to ensure the integrity of the program. (b) The rules shall be consi…

Sec. 161.064. BOARD AUTHORITY TO MAKE INVESTIGATIONS. The board may make any investigation it considers necessary relating to transactions involving land purchases or sales under this chapter. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2657, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.065. OATHS; BOOKS, RECORDS, AND DOCUMENTS. (a) The board is specifically authorized to administer oaths and to examine the books, records, or other documents dealing with or relating to the transactions of any person involved in the transaction. (b) The board may make co…

Sec. 161.066. SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM. The board may issue a subpoena duces tecum to require a person to produce books, records, or any other documents for the board's examination. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2657, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.067. FORFEITURE OF CHARTER AND RIGHTS. (a) If a corporation fails or refuses to comply with the orders of the board under Sections 161.064 through 161.066 of this code, the corporation shall forfeit its right to do business in this state, and its permit or charter shall …

Sec. 161.068. FORM OF INSTRUMENTS. The board may prescribe the form and contents of notices, bids, applications, awards, contracts, deeds, and instruments used by the board in carrying out a project or plan if it is not in conflict with the law. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2658, ch.…

Sec. 161.069. FEES. (a) The board shall collect the fee it considers necessary from each applicant under Subchapter G of this chapter and deposit the fee in a bank. Interest received on the deposit shall be credited to the General Land Office special fund and shall be spent for a…

Sec. 161.070. ADDITIONAL FEES. (a) The board shall set and collect, for the use of the state, reasonable fees in amounts determined by the board for services it may provide in connection with processing and servicing of purchase applications and contracts of sale and purchase and…

Sec. 161.071. PAMPHLETS. The board shall have published pamphlets containing the provisions of this chapter and rules the board desires, and these pamphlets shall be made available to any interested veteran, veterans organization, or other interested person in the state. Acts 197…

Sec. 161.072. LEASE BY BOARD. (a) The board may lease any property that it owns on terms it considers proper. (b) A lease for agricultural and grazing purposes is subject to cancellation on the sale of the property to a veteran. (c) The board may execute oil, gas, and mineral lea…

Sec. 161.073. CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES. The board may contract with a private entity to administer all or part of the program if it is cost effective to do so. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 798, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

Sec. 161.074. BOND ENHANCEMENT AGREEMENTS. (a) The board may at any time and from time to time enter into one or more bond enhancement agreements that the board determines to be necessary or appropriate to place the obligation of the board, as represented by the bonds, in whole o…

Sec. 161.075. INFORMATION FOR LENDING INSTITUTIONS. (a) In this section, "lending institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 161.502. (b) On request, the board shall provide to a lending institution information regarding state land and housing benefits programs for veterans…

Sec. 161.076. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. (a) The board shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the commission. The memorandum of understanding must specify the guidelines, powers, and duties necessary for the board and the commission to coordinate veterans benefits …

Sec. 161.077. COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. (a) Based on the memorandum of understanding described by Section 161.076, the board shall operate a consolidated communications center to provide information regarding the benefits and services available to veterans of this state, including b…

Sec. 161.078. WEBSITE; BROCHURE. (a) Based on the memorandum of understanding described by Section 161.076, the board shall integrate web services and develop a hard-copy brochure that provides in a centralized, comprehensive, and simplified format information about all available…

Sec. 161.079. BENEFITS SEMINARS. (a) To ensure that the veterans of this state receive uniform information on all veterans benefits and services available, the board and the commission shall: (1) jointly plan and provide state-sponsored veterans benefits seminars; and (2) coordin…

Sec. 161.080. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) This section applies only to: (1) a veteran or a family member of the veteran who applies for or receives any benefits or services offered by the board; or (2) a current member of: (A) the armed forces of the United States…

Sec. 161.111. ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS; DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS. By appropriate action, the board may provide by resolution for the issuance and sale of negotiable bonds authorized by the constitution, and the proceeds shall be a part of the fund. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2659,…

Sec. 161.112. INSTALLMENTS. The board, at its option, may issue bonds in one or several installments. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2659, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.