Court Opinion

ID: 4143917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 03:39:07.085314+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:33.473883
License: Public Domain

c

HonorableT. 0. ,Walton,President
Agricdtutialand MechanicalCollegeof Texas
CollegeStation,Texas
Dear Dr. Walton:                        opinionNo. o-2469
                                        Re: Is the Board of Directorsof
                                            the Agriculturaland Mechanical
                                            Collegeempoweredto pay any
                                            part of the premiumson a policy
                                            of group life insurancecovering
                                            the dployees from studentfee
                                            funds, local funds, or other in-
                                            stitutionalfunds under the jur-
                                            isdictionof the Board - and re-
                                            lated question?

         We beg to acknowledgereceiptof your letter of June 5, 1940, request-
ing an opinionfrom this department,such letterbeing as follows,to-wit:

         "On or about April 1, 1931, the SouthwesternLife Insurance
    Company,of Dallas,Texas, issuedto the Agriculturaland Mechani-
    cal College its policy of Group Insurance,insuringthe full-time
    employees(employeeseither on a nine months or twelvemonths ba-
    sis) of the Collegeagainstdeath and total and permanentdisabi-
    lity. The insurancehas been in full force since that date, and
    employeeshave been requiredto carry the insuranceas a part of
    their contract.* * *

         "Underthe plan of insurance,the cost of premiumswas paid
    jointlyby the insuredemployeesand the College,the insuredem-
    ployeespaying approximatelyseven-eighthsof the premiumsand
    the Collegepaying approximatelyone-eighth. The proportionate
    part of the premiumspaid by the Collegewas and is made from un-
    assignedlocal funds;that is, from funds of the Collegenot ap-
    propriatedout of the State Treasuryand not designatedto be
    used for any particularpurpose.* * *

         "The Board.of Directorsgave the matter carefulconsidera-
    tion when the plan was establishedand it was their jud&mentf&at
    the benefitto the CnlJ.ege& fmpra~eoed~.f#Xale
                                                 of the staffwould
    be worth much more ths&the cost k-the institution.The judg-
    ment of the Board in this respecthas been amply substantiatedby
    our experienceunder the plan. The total cost to the Collegehas
    averagedbetween$3.00 and $4.00 per insuredemployeeper year,
HonorableT. 0. Walton,Page 2 (C-2469)

    and we have consideredthis as being in the nature of a small supple-
    ment to the salaryand permlsaibleunder the appropriation act.

         "We would appreciateit, therefore,if you would informus on
    the followingpoints:

         "1. Is the Board of Directorsof the A. & M. Collegeempowered
    to pay any part of the premiumson a policy of Group Life Insurance
    coveringthe employeesfrom studentfee funde, local,fundr,or other
    institutional funds under the jurledictionof the Board7

         "2. If this cannotbe dons, can the Board legallypay its part
    of the premiumsfrom the Group InsurancePremiumsRevolvingAccount
    made up as outlinedabove of refundsma& by the InsuranceCompany
    under the participatingfeatureof the policy and held in trust for
    the insuredemployees?"

          SectionI(a) of House Bill No. 255, the Appropriation
                                                             Act for Insti-
tutions of Higher Learningfor the currentbiennium,declare8:

         "Thatall balance8in the institutional  funds of the several
    State institutionsnamed in this Act, at the close of the fiscal
    year endingAugust 31, 1939, includingbalancesin their revolv-
    ing funds at that time, and the entire incor to said funds dur-
    ing each of the two fiscal years endingAugust 31,~1940, and Aug-
    ust 31, 1941, which are not otherwiseappropriatedfor either or
    both of said fiscalyears, are herebyappropriatedfor the sup-
    port, maintenance,operationand improvementof said State insti-
    tutions duringeach of the said fiscal years respectively."

          In OpinionNo, O-1661,construingChapter144, Acts 45th Legislature--
the GeneralAppropriationBill -- with respectto balancesin institutional
funds,we held that such funds may not be used to pay a part of the premiums
for group hospitalizationend life insurancepoliciescoveringfacultymembers
and for their benefit.

         The same rule, upon the same reasoning,appliesto your inquiry.
These institutionalfunds have been appropriatedfor the support,maintenance,
operationand improvementof the respectiveState institutions.We there said:

        "There is no just relationbetweenthe insuranceto protect
    studentstravelingin connectionwith the activitiesof the insti-
    tution that would justifythe paymentof premiumstherefor. Such
    insuranceis not reasonablynecessary,nor do we think it la even
    proper as an incidentto the maintenanceof the institution."

         Your first question,therefore,is answeredin the negative.

         Pxm-thermore,
                     the Board is not authorizedto pay any part of the pre-
miums under considerationfrom the group insurancepremiumsrevolvingaccount
HonorableT. 0. Walton,Page 3 (O-2469)

refundedto the Board under the insuranceplan. Theee refundstake the place
and occupythe status of the fund6 originallyused -- wrongfully,as we are
holdingit to have been -- by the Board In purchasingsuch insurance.

          Of course,we are not consideringthe matter from the standpoint
of businesspolicy, such a8 might guide an individualin the conductof hie
own affairs,but on the contrary,we are coneideringit solelyfrom the stand-
point of legislativeauthorityin the Board to make the purchaseof such in-
suranceout of the public institutional funds.

           Your second questionis thereforelikewiseansweredin the negative.

          We have answeredyour questionsbroadlyas you have statedthem.
Of course,nothingwe have said shouldbe construedas to excludethe use of
funds for such group insuranceproperlybelongingindividuallyto sn employee
as a beneficiaryof such fund, where the employeebeneficiaryconsentsto such
use. It is his individualmoney and thereforenot withinthe rule we have
discussedabove.

          Neither shouldour answerbe construedso as to preventa supplement-
ing of an employee'ssalaryout of the funds and in the menner specifically
providedfor in subsection(2) of the GeneralProvisionsattachedto House
Bill No. 255 -- Regular Session,46th Legislaturefor Institutionsof Higher
Learning.

                                                    Very truly yours

APPROVEDJUL g, 1940                            ATPORNEYGENERALOFTEEAS

/s/ Glenn R. Lewis
                                                By /a/ Ocie Speer
ACTINGA!il'OREEY
               GENERAL                                 Ocie Speer
      OF TEEAS                                          Assistant

OS-MR-LM

                                    THIS OPINION
                                   CONSIDEREDAND
                                     APPROVEDIN
                                       LIMITED
                                     CONFEREECE