DUTIES OF STATE AGENCY.

(a) A state agency may establish a petty cash account in a federally insured financial institution.

(b) Before a state agency may establish a petty cash account for a fiscal year:

(1) the head of the agency must determine that the account is necessary for the efficient operation of the agency and submit that determination to the comptroller;

(2) the agency must specify to the comptroller the purpose of the petty cash account;

(3) the agency must estimate the probable disbursements from the petty cash account during the fiscal year and submit that estimate to the comptroller;

(4) the agency must obtain a certification from the comptroller stating that the agency has a sufficient appropriation from the fund for the fiscal year to cover all probable disbursements during the fiscal year; and

(5) if the amount requested for the petty cash account would exceed the limits specified in Section 403.246, the agency must obtain the comptroller's approval of the amount.

(c) As soon as possible after the beginning of each fiscal year, a state agency shall provide to the comptroller an estimate of probable disbursements from each petty cash account during that fiscal year.

(d) A state agency may disburse money from a petty cash account only if the disbursement would be a proper expenditure from the corresponding fund if the fund itself, instead of the petty cash account, were being directly used to make the disbursement.

(e) Before a state agency may request the comptroller to replenish a petty cash account, the state agency shall submit the following documentation to the comptroller, in the content, method, and format required by the comptroller:

(1) the name of and a proper identification number for each person who received a disbursement from the petty cash account;

(2) invoices or receipts from each person who received a disbursement from the petty cash account or canceled checks proving that total disbursements from the account equal the amount of the requested replenishment; and

(3) any other documentation that the comptroller considers necessary.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 285, Sec. 31(11).

(g) A state agency shall ensure that all disbursements from a petty cash account comply with the purchasing laws and rules of the state and are supported by documentation that is sufficient to enable a complete audit.

(h) A state agency may keep currency in its offices for the purpose of making change, spot purchases, or any similar purpose or a combination of purposes as determined by the agency. The amount of currency kept in an office may not exceed $100 at any time unless the comptroller determines additional amounts are necessary for the efficient operation of the agency. The documentation that the agency would maintain if a disbursement were made from the petty cash account itself must be maintained for each disbursement from the currency kept in the office.

(i) A state agency shall reconcile and request a replenishment of its petty cash account as often as the comptroller requires.