i 

Honorable David Wade, M.D. 

Commissioner 

Opinion No. M-1083 

Texas Department of Mental Re: Expenditure of money apHealth and Mental Retardation propriated in Item 8 of 

Box 12668, Capitol Station 

Austin, Texas 

the current General Appro78711 priations Act to the 

Commission on Alcoholism. 

Dear Dr. Wade: 

Your request for an opinion asks the following question: 

"May money appropriated in item 8 of the 

current appropriations to the Commission on 

Alcoholism be expended to pay travel expense of 

Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation employees engaged in the training and 

coordination of personnel and activities funded 

by the said item 8." 

Item 8 of the appropriation to the Commission on Alcoholism for the fiscal year ending August 31, 1972, reads as 

follows: 

"For the Year Ending 

August 31, 

1972 

" 8 . For the Department of Mental 

Health and Mental Retardation, 

to supplement the rehabilitation 

of alcoholics in the State hospitals, to be expended with the 

advice of the Texas Commission 

on Alcoholism for the following: 

Supervising Counselor (14-4744) 

two Alcoholism Counselor II's 

(14,4742), sixteen Alcoholism 

Counselor I's (13-4741), one 

Administrative Secretary (g-0138), 

travel and all other necessary 

expenses $200,702" 

-5297- 
Dr. David Wade, page 2 (M-1083) 

It is noted that while the above quoted item of appropriation is made to the Commission on Alcoholism, it is for the 

benefit of the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation 

and is to be expended for the purpose of carrying out the Department's alcoholism programs with the advice of the Texas Commission 

on Alcoholism. 

You state in your request: 

"AS you will note, this appropriation item 

provides for designated positions. The individuals 

filling these positions work in this Department's 

State hospitals and are involved with the rehabilitation of alcoholics. This Department employs additional personnel whose salary is paid from other 

appropriations and whose duty is to train and 

coordinate the activities of the individuals employed pursuant to the above cited appropriation 

item. These additional personnel incur travel 

expense in carrying out this training and coordination effort in the State hospital alcoholism 

programs. . . .II 

In view of the fact that Item 8 specifically provides 

that the money appropriated may be expended for "travel and all 

other necessary expenses", it is our opinion that such phrase refers to travel and necessary expenses in carrying out the alcoholism programs referred to in Item 8. You are accordingly advised that moneys appropriated in Item 8 of the current appropriation to the Commission on Alcoholism may be expended to pay 

travel expenses of employees of the Texas Department of Mental 

Health and Mental Retardation engaged in carrying out the alcoholism programs of the Texas Department of Mental Health and 

Mental Retardation to rehabilitate alcoholics in the State 

hospitals referred to in said Item 8. 

SUMMARY 

Item 8 of the appropriation to the Commission 

on Alcoholism contained in the current General Appropriations Act may be expended for the purpose of paying travel expenses of employees of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation incurred 

in carrying out the alcoholism programs of the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to rehabilitate alcoholics in the State hospitals. 

-5298- 
Dr. David Wade, page 3 

Prepared by John Reeves 

Assistant Attorney General 

APPROVED: 

OPINION COMMITTEE 

Kerns Taylor, Chairman 

W. E. Allen, Co-Chairman 

William Craig 

Gordon Cass 

Jerry Roberts 

James Hackney 

SAMUEL D. MCDANIEL 

Staff Legal Assistant 

ALFRED WALKER 

Executive Assistant 

NOLA WHITE 

First Assistant 

(M-1083) 

J? e y truly ,yours , 

General of Texas 

-5299-