STATE AGENCY ADMINISTERED BY ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL.

(a) A state agency administered by an elected or appointed state official may approve a voucher only in accordance with this section.

(b) The elected or appointed state official who is authorized by law to administer a state agency may authorize the chief deputy of the agency to designate one or more officers or employees of the agency to approve vouchers.

(c) The chief deputy may make or revoke a designation under this section after the comptroller has received written notice from the elected or appointed official of the authorization.

(d) The elected or appointed official may approve a voucher after submitting a signature card to the comptroller.

(e) An officer or employee of the state agency may approve a voucher after:

(1) the elected or appointed official or the chief deputy, if authorized under Subsection (b) or (c), has designated the officer or employee to approve vouchers;

(2) the comptroller has received written notice from the elected or appointed official or the chief deputy, if authorized under Subsection (b) or (c), that the official or chief deputy has authorized the officer or employee to approve vouchers; and

(3) the comptroller has received a signature card from the officer or employee.

(f) The elected or appointed official or the chief deputy authorized under Subsection (b) or (c) shall ensure that the comptroller is notified of the revocation of the authorization of an officer or employee to approve vouchers. This notice shall be given within 10 days after the effective date of the revocation.

(g) In this section, "chief deputy" means the individual authorized by law to administer a state agency that is administered by an elected or appointed state official during the absence of the official or during the official's inability to act.