Honorablelbawr H. Baker, Chainsau stats Board of Coutrol Austin, 'Texas
Dear Mr. B&err OpinionBo. O-3283 Re: Authorityof the Boardof Control to dstsrminethe nssd of an education- al institutionto haw printeda stated nuder of hallstinsorpublicrtioaa.
You write us @clfollows,"From tims to time, us haa rmII&dW oomingto us fromthe edusatioaaliastitatioasof Taxam, tkm attachedfile from the Tsxas State Collagefor Wsxnonbeing a typical w,:tiW& they seek to obtain sonseatofths Stats Board of Controlfor the purohaseaf a stated aumber of publications.
"It is no doubtths proviaoeof this Fkmrdto pass onthese requisitionsaud to pursue ths regulationsprescribedw lairwith referenceto the manusr of purohase.. There is a questionaboub nhsthsrmu have any discretionin deter- Ming whether or not the publicationssoughtto bs purshasedby an institu- tion of highsr learningin Tans is nsssssary.
%ll you, thsrsfors,advise us on ths folloriagpropositions:
s(1) Does the Stats Fbard of Controlhare the right,as a matter.oflaw, to determinewhetheror not a requisitionfor the printingof a statednws- bar of balletinsor publicationsfrus an adusaticnalinstitutionis nscss- =arg~ s(2) Do ss havs the right to refuse to grant a requisitionfor purohaseafter it has been duly approwd and deliwrsd to us by the oomstitutedauthorities of an institutionof higher learninginthis State?"
Your requestrequiresan examinationgoner&y as to the possrs con- ferredupon the Board of Controlby Statuts. Artiole SO3 of the Revised Civil States defdningthe gsneraldutissof the Board deolarssr
"The bard shall administerthe laws rslatingto ths variousdspartments, boards,institutionsand public offioersof the Gorsmmeenthereinmsmed, and performthe additionalduties and sxsraisethe additionalfunctionsprovided for inthis title, and may ocaaMneunder it the folloxingsubdivisionsof its works .-.
Hon. lPeaver H. Balrer - Page 2 (O-5283)
"1. Divisionof Publio Frinting. "2. Divisionof Purohasimg. "3. Divisionof Auditing. "4. Mvisioa of Dssign,Construotioaand maiz+tenanos. "5. Divisionof gstimatesand Anrmpriations. "6. Mvirion of Eleemo8ymm-yIartititions. "7. Aad-moh other ditisionsof it8 worka it may fiad neoes- aary in the adaiaistration of it8 dutie8.s
Frcm th8 letter of DirectorHmphries, of the Dspprtsmntof Extaa8ion of Texas State Collegefor Women whioh accompaniesyour request,it ir shown that your inquirJris based speoifioallyupon her requestfor the print&g of 5000 copiesof a bullstin*Hintson How to Live in a Uar Eooa!aqy,s w members of the Texas Stat8 Colle@.for Umssn War Council.
Division81 ud 2 of ths-Article0x8 the one8 most pertinentto your inquiry. Under the Mvsion of eblio Frinting,it is providedthat the Board shall oontraotfor a tena not snowding t8u years for supplyingto the State all printing,Mnding, stationeryand suppliesof like oharaoterfor all depart- ments, institutionsand boarda,saw and except saahrork a8 rn#j b8done at the variouseduortioraland 018emo8ynaryinstitution8(Artiole60'3)) that th Boardmay establishrul8s and regulationsin adwitising for bids for printing and stationerysup lie8 in suohmanner a8 in its judgmentwilP best 881~8 the State (A+ols 610P2 that the Board shall order eush quantituof all reports, dooms&s, messages,journalsud law8 to bs publishedas it may deam neoessarg, not more than 5000 of such reports (Artiole612). Chapter3 - Purchasing Mvision - provide8that the hard shall purchaseall suppliesused by each departmantof the State govermumt, includingthe Stat8 Prison System,and institution,normal sohools,Agriculturaland Msohanieal each el8sldosynary college,Dnivsrsityof Tens, and eaoh and all other State schoolsor depart- ments of the State gorsnrmentheretoforeor hereafberoreated(&ticle 634).
The law as a whole (Title20) areatiagand