The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts amendments to §5.22, concerning incorporation by reference: "State of Texas Travel Allowance Guide", without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 22, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 9821).

The amendments are necessary because of the issuance of a new "State of Texas Travel Allowance Guide" by the comptroller in October 2004. The new guide reflects changes made by the 78th legislature, regular session, 2003 to the Travel Regulations Act and to the travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act. The new guide also includes policy changes that are intended to promote efficiency and eliminate ambiguities concerning the travel of state officers and employees. Chapter 9 of the new guide lists the major differences between it and the previous guide. A copy of the new guide is available upon request from Claims Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendments are adopted under Government Code, §660.021, which requires the comptroller to adopt rules to administer the Travel Regulations Act and the travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act.

The amendments implement the Government Code, §403.248 and §§660.001-660.208. The amendments also implement the following provisions of the General Appropriations Act: Article III, Sections 7, 9, and 12; Article IV, Section 9(a); Article IX, §4.04(a), (e)-(f), §§5.01-5.07, §5.09, §6.21(b); Rider 4 in the appropriations to the Department of Banking; Rider 5 in the appropriations to the Cosmetology Commission; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the Department of Criminal Justice; Rider 4 in the appropriations to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the University of Houston System Administration; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the Commission on Human Rights; Rider 7 in the appropriations to the Department of Insurance; Rider 7 in the appropriations to the Texas Lottery Commission; Rider 28 in the appropriations to the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; Rider 2 in the appropriations to Midwestern State University; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the University of North Texas System Administration; Rider 16 in the appropriations to the Parks and Wildlife Department; Riders 18 and 20 in the appropriations to the Department of Public Safety; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the Racing Commission; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the Savings and Loan Department; Rider 9 in the appropriations to the secretary of state; Rider 2 in the appropriations to Stephen F. Austin State University; Rider 1 in the appropriations to the Texas River Compact Commissions; Rider 8 in the appropriations to the Teacher Retirement System; Rider 2 in the appropriations to The Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices; Rider 2 in the appropriations to Texas Southern University; Rider 3 in the appropriations to Texas State Technical College System Administration; Rider 2 in the appropriations to Board of Regents, Texas State University System Central Office; Rider 3 in the appropriations to The University of Texas System Administration; Rider 2 in the appropriations to the Texas Tech University System Administration; Rider 2 in the appropriations to Texas Woman's University; and Rider 23 in the appropriations to the Department of Transportation.