Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1991 )

QBffice of tfie glttocnep @enecat &State of QCexas DAN MORALES ATTORNEY GENERAL April 15, 1991 Mr. Dermis R. Jones Opinion No. DM-15 Commissioner Texas Department of Mental Health Re: Whether the Department of Mental and Mental Retardation Health and Mental Retardation may use P. 0. Box 12668 certain funds to make architectural modifi- Austin, Texas 78711-2668 cations to the private homes of its clients (RQ-2106) Dear Mr. Jones: You ask whether the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (hereinafter, the “department”) may use state-appropriated funds, other than those appropnated to admlmster arncle 5547-205, V.T.C.S., to make architectural modifi- cations to the private homes of persons served by the department. Section 5.04 of article 5547-205 provides, in part: (a) The department shall provide support to clients to compensate the clients for present and future expenses incurred to maintain in the community a mentally disabled family member or a mentally disabled person in an independent living situation, including: (1) the purchase or lease of special equipment or architectural modifications of a home to improve or facilitate the care, treatment, therapy, general living conditions, or access of a mentally disabled person; . .. . (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the duty of the department to provide services under this article is determined and limited by the funds specifically appropriated to administer this article. p. 69 Mr. Dennis R. Jones - Page 2 ( DM- 15 ) You do not advise that there is any other statute that authorizes or directs the department to make architectural improvements to the homes of mentally disabled persons, nor are we aware of any. You refer us to your enabling legislation, specifically section 1.01(d) of article 5547-201, V.T.C.S. That section expresses the policy of the state “that mental health and mental retardation services be the responsibility of local agencies and organizations to the greatest extent possible.” However, this section also provides that the “department will provide state- administered mental health and mental retardation services.” We think that this general provision is intended to establish that the department is the state agency responsible for providing services at the state level, and not as a general grant of authority to provide services not otherwise authorized by law. Accordingly, the department may not use funds other than those appropriated to administer article 5547-205 to make architectural modifications to the private homes of persons served by the department. SUMMARY The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retarda- tion may not use funds other than those appropriated to administer article 5547-205, V.T.C.S., to make architectural modifications to the private homes of persons served by the department. Very truly yours, bd? /%Ld$ DAN MORALES Attorney General of Texas WILL PRYOR First Assistant Attorney General MARY KELLER Executive Assistant Attorney General JUDGE ZOLLJE STEARLRY (Ret.) Special Assistant Attorney General p. 70 Mr. Dennis R. Jones - Page 3 ( DM-15 1 RENEAMcKS Spezial Assistant Attorney General MADELEINE B. JOHNSON Chair, Opinion Committee Prepared by John Steiner Assistant Attorney General p. 71