The Texas Department of Information Resources (department) adopts amendments to 1 TAC Chapter 201, §201.4 and §201.9, concerning General Administration, without changes to the proposal as published in the March 17, 2017, issue of the Texas Register (40 TexReg 5577) to ensure the rules accurately reflect the department’s policies and procedures. The department published a formal notice of rule review in the Texas Register. Review of the sections implements Texas Government Code, §2001.039.

In 1 TAC 201.4, the Department adopts an amendment to require agency employees and officials involved in procurement or contract management to disclose potential conflicts of interest with respect to contracts with private vendors; prohibit the department from entering into contracts with vendors with whom certain department employees or officials have a financial interest; and defines the prohibited financial interest.

In 1 TAC 201.9, the Department adopts correcting a technical error, replacing commission with board.

The changes to the chapter apply to DIR and will have no effect on state agencies and institutions of higher education. The assessment of the impact of the proposed changes on institutions of higher education was prepared in consultation with the Information Technology Council for Higher Education (ITCHE) in compliance with §2054.121(c), Texas Government Code.

No comments were received as a result of that notice.

The amendments to existing rule are adopted pursuant to §2054.052(a), Texas Government Code, which authorizes the department to adopt rules as necessary to implement its responsibilities under Chapter 2054, Texas Government Code; 2255.01, Texas Government Code, which authorizes state agencies to develop rules; and §2001.021(b), Texas Government Code, which authorizes state agencies to, by rule, prescribe the form of a petition under the section.

No other code, article or statute is affected by this adoption.