allegation of the existence of a debt by siatutq reference; or by some other @iMy e&x% mums." (Emphasis in original.) Attotney General Opinion MW-416 (1981) at 2-3; Letter Adviwry No. 57 at 4. The wmptroller lacks authority to withhold warrama tmder section 403.055(a) of the GovanmentCodeifnoddxexistsintheusualand ordinarysenseoftheword. AttonqGeneralOpinionMW-416at3.
As stated above, article 6252-6b. section 4(r), V.T.C.S., author&s the agency to imposeuponandpientofrgmcygoodsa~~Mdhandlingchargeorfee. Failureto pay the charge or fix creates a debt. See BLACK'LAW ~ DICI'IONARY363 (5th cd. 1979) (deGng"debt"). Theissuebawmes,therefore~whetherapersonthatfhilstopaythe saviceand~chargeorfeetotheagencyis~~tedtothe~forplrposesof section 403.055 of the Govemment Code. Because the agency is a subdihion of the state,weconchrdethatapaswindebtedtothersencyisliLewiseindebtedtothestllte. conseqwntly, the agency, ptlmant to section 403.055 of the Gmemmea code, may mpest the comptroller to withhold warmntstoapersonindebtedtotheagency~andthe wmptroller is authorixed to withhold the wammts, provided that tha agency properly has alleged the statutory basis of the debt-here, article 6252-6b. section 4(1), V.T.C.S. See Letter Advisoty No. 57 (1973) at 4:
You also ask whether the wmptrokr is authorized to withhold any warrant that is payable to any individual identiikd and ccrtihd as the principal 05cer or respomile employee of the entity or htitution that is indebted to the agency. To answer your question, WC would have to detumioe who, in each particular entity or insthtio~ is legally responsibk for the debts of the entity or institution. Such a determhation requires
p. 1142 Mr.MarvinJ.Timnan - Page 3 (DM-217)
the resolution of facts and is the&ore outside the. scope of the opiaion prkss. We note in refkamw to your question, howev~, that while section 403.055(a) expressly prohibits thew~~a~missuinga~toapasonthatisindebtedtothestate,suboection (c) expressly authorizes the wmptfolla to issue a warrant to pay a state 05&s or state emp~oyee'swmpensation.
SUMMARY
The Texas Surplus Property Agency, pumuant to section 403.055 of the Governmmt code. tllay request the Wl+O~K to withhold warmntstoanentityorinstitutiontbathasfhikdtopaythe agencyaccruedserviceandhandhgcbargcsandfees. Thus provided that the agency proparly al&es to the wmptrokr the statutory basis of the debt, the WtltptdK is authorized to withhold such wanants. %dlK the comptrou~ is authorized to withhold auywarmntthatispayabletoanindividualidwtifiedandce&kdas the principal officer or responsiile employee of tha entity or inrtitutionthrtisindebtedtotheagencyisaquestionimrohringthe resolution of facts; it is therefore outside the awpe of the opinion process.
DAN MORALES AttomcyGcnaalofTexas
WILL PRYOR F~AsshntAttorneyGenaral
MARYKELLER Deputy Attorney Chteral for Litigation
RENEAHKK!3 State Solicitor
MADELEINE B. JOHNSON Chair, Opiion Committee
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