Court Opinion

ID: 3898635
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 09:29:58.680711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:52:18.247007
License: Public Domain

Honorable John J. Kavanagh, M.D. Commissioner Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Box 12668 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711
Re: Authority of Department of MHMR to convert employee residence buildings to other uses and to provide cash allowances to employees in lieu of housing.
Dear Dr. Kavanagh:
You have asked whether the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation may convert an on campus employee residence to other uses. If the answer is in the affirmative, you also ask if the facility may pay a $175 per month cash allowance in lieu of campus housing to those facility employees entitled to on campus, rent-free housing. In our opinion the Department has the authority to make a reasonable determination as to whether the best interests of the facility would be served by converting an on campus residence to another use or continuing to use it for residential purposes. V.T.C.S. arts. 5547-202, § 2.16; 3176; 3174b, § 2; Attorney General Opinion H-874 (1976).
In reference to your second question, the General Appropriations Act of 1977 provides, in pertinent part, that
  a house shall be furnished each Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Clinical and Medical Director, Business Manager, and Plant Maintenance Technician.
  In the event housing facilities are not available for institutional personnel specified in this subsection, cash allowances not to exceed one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175) per month may be paid to any such personnel in lieu of such house.
General Appropriations Act, Acts 1977, 65th Leg., ch. 872, art. II, § 3(c)(2), at 2802.
This provision does not limit the statutory authority of the Department, but merely provides that if no facilities are `available' to furnish housing, then a cash allowance may be paid. The Department still has the authority to make a reasonable determination as to what use is to be made of campus buildings. When a determination is made that the best interests of the facility are served by using a particular building for nonresidential purposes, the building is then `unavailable' for use as a residence. If no other housing accommodations are available, then it is our opinion that the allowance may be paid.
 SUMMARY
The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation has the authority to determine what use is to be made of campus buildings. If, as a result of the Department's determinations, no buildings are available for use as residences, then a cash allowance may be paid to those employees listed in the General Appropriations Act.
Very truly yours,
John L. Hill Attorney General of Texas
APPROVED:
David M. Kendall First Assistant
C. Robert Heath Chairman Opinion Committee