Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 153.049. CRIMINAL HISTORY EVALUATION. The board shall perform the duties of a licensing authority under Chapter 53, Occupations Code, for each certification issued by the board under this chapter or other law, including issuing guidelines under Section 53.025, Occupations Co…

Sec. 153.081. LIMITATION OF OWNER LIABILITY. (a) Subject to Section 153.082, an owner, lessee, or occupant of agricultural or conservation land is not liable for property damage or for injury or death to persons caused by or resulting from prescribed burning conducted on the land…

Sec. 153.082. INSURANCE. The limitation on liability under Section 153.081 does not apply to an owner, lessee, or occupant of agricultural or conservation land unless: (1) the burn is conducted under the supervision of a certified and insured prescribed burn manager who has liabi…

Sec. 153.083. LIABILITY REGARDING CERTAIN PRESCRIBED BURNS. (a) In this section, "burn boss" means an individual responsible for directing a prescribed burn under a written prescription plan described by Section 153.047. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), if a prescribed b…

Sec. 153.084. LIMITATION OF BURN BOSS LIABILITY. (a) In this section, "burn boss" has the meaning assigned by Section 153.083. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a burn boss is not liable for property damage, personal injury, or death caused by or resulting from the burn i…

Sec. 153.101. COMPLAINTS. The department shall receive and process complaints concerning certified and insured prescribed burn managers in the manner described by Sections 12.026 and 12.02601, Agriculture Code, and rules adopted under those sections. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg.…

Sec. 153.102. DISCIPLINARY ACTION; SCHEDULE OF SANCTIONS. (a) The department may impose an administrative sanction, including an administrative penalty, as provided by Sections 12.020, 12.0201, 12.0202, and 12.0261, Agriculture Code, for a violation of this chapter. (b) The board…

Sec. 153.1025. CERTAIN DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding Section 153.102 or any other law, the department or another state agency may not take disciplinary action against a certified and insured prescribed burn manager in relation to a prescribed burn conducted in a…

Sec. 153.103. INJUNCTION. (a) The department may apply to a district court in any county for an injunction to restrain a person who is not a certified and insured prescribed burn manager from representing that the person is a certified and insured prescribed burn manager. (b) At …

Sec. 153.104. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. (a) On determining that a certification holder is engaged in or about to engage in a violation of this chapter and that the certification holder's continued practice constitutes an immediate threat to the public welfare, the department may issu…

Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Board" means the Veterans' Land Board. (2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the General Land Office. (3) "Land office" means the General Land Office. (4) "Program" means the Veterans' Land Program. (5) "Fund" means the …

Sec. 161.011. VETERANS LAND BOARD DESIGNATED. The Veterans Land Board is a state agency designated to perform the governmental functions authorized in Article III, Section 49-b of the Texas Constitution. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2655, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 161.0111. SUNSET PROVISION. The Veterans' Land Board is subject to review under Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter. The board shall be reviewed during the period in which state agencies abolished in 2031 are reviewed and …

Sec. 161.013. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. (a) The board shall select an executive secretary and an assistant executive secretary, each of whom shall be nominated by the commissioner and approved by a majority of the board. (b) The executive secretary an…

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.…