Texas. State Board of Control

The Texas State Board of Control was created in 1919 by the Thirty-sixth Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 147, Regular Session), becoming operational on January 1, 1920. The Board was composed of three members, serving six-year overlapping terms, appointed by the Governor with concurrence of the Senate. The Board elected a chair. The legislation which created the Board also abolished several agencies and offices, transferring their duties to the Board of Control. Offices abolished were the State Expert Printer, State Board of Public Printing, State Purchasing Agent, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, State Inspector of Masonry, and the Boards of Managers of each of the state eleemosynary institutions.

The Board of Control had numerous responsibilities. The Board served as the purchasing agent for state departments, institutions, and agencies, approving requisition orders, purchasing supplies, contracting for printing, and transferring supplies between agencies, etc. The Board also had control and supervision of the state eleemosynary institutions (state schools, hospitals and sanatoriums, orphanages, juvenile training schools), the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, and the State Cemetery. It established rules and regulations for the state eleemosynary institutions and established hospital districts for the state hospitals. Additionally, the Board had joint supervision and maintenance of certain historical state parks (including San Jacinto, Goliad, and Fannin State Parks); and had charge of the custody and maintenance of the Capitol and other State office buildings and their adjoining grounds. In this capacity the Board contracted for all construction, repairs, and improvements made for the eleemosynary institutions and other state agencies; designed and prepared the plans and specifications used in construction projects and machinery and equipment repairs; leased public grounds; rented offices and buildings when needed for state agencies; sold property of the state when no longer needed; and prepared the biennial appropriation budget for the state. These were the primary functions of the Board. Additional duties included administering child welfare activities; supervising the printing and manufacture of cigarette tax stamps; providing photostat (and later microfilm) services and typewriter repair services to state agencies; and maintaining the Bureau of Records as a temporary depository for the permanent records of the state. The Texas Relief Commission was added to the Board in 1934 (House Bill 1, 43rd Legislature, 3rd Called Session) and the Old Age Assistance Commission was added in 1936 (House Bill 8, 44th Legislature, 3rd Called Session). In some instances Board chairmen or members were appointed to or served on other state boards or commissions. In the 1930s the Chairman of the Board, Claude Teer, was appointed to the Locating and Building Board of the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Negroes (upon completion, this sanatorium was turned over to the Board of Control). In the 1940s, Hall Logan, Board member and later Board chairman, also served as the Acting Director of the Postwar Economic Planning Commission.

Over the years, many of the duties of the Board were transferred to other agencies. In 1939 the 46th Legislature (Senate Bill 36, Regular Session) created the Texas State Department of Public Welfare, transferring welfare and assistance responsibilities of the Board to that Department. In 1949 control of all eleemosynary institutions was transferred to the Texas Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools and the Texas Youth Development Council (House Bill 1, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Additional legislation in 1949 (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session) transferred control and custody of all state historical parks, except the San Jacinto State Park and Memorial Tower, Fannin State Park, and the Battleship Texas, to the control and custody of the Texas State Parks Board. Legislation in 1951 transferred preparation of the biennial appropriation budget and all related budget functions to the Governor's Office (Senate Bill 413, 52nd Legislature, Regular Session).

The Board initially established several divisions to handle its responsibilities--Division of Purchasing; Division of Public Printing; Division of Auditing; Division of Eleemosynary Institutions; Division of Design, Construction and Maintenance; and Division of Estimates and Appropriations. The Division of Child Welfare and the Centennial Division were later added and others were created (and consolidated or abolished) as needed. As the Board lost many of its responsibilities in the 1940s and 1950s, many of these divisions were abolished. By the mid-1950s the Board's divisions reflected its restructured roles of purchasing-related activities; construction, maintenance, and repairs; oversight; and other duties. In 1956 the Board was organized into the Main Division, Purchasing Division, Division of Printing, Claims Division, Design and Construction Division, Division of Buildings and Grounds, and Cigarette Stamp Tax Purchaser (not actually a division). By 1970 additional divisions reflected the Board's role of providing security and centralized services to state agencies. These included providing telephone and mail services, operating a centralized supply store, and performing property inventories. Divisions in 1972 were the Purchasing Division, Centralized Services Division, Automatic Data Processing Division, Building and Property Services Division, and the Security Division.

In 1953 the Board of Control was reorganized (Senate Bill 77, 53rd Legislature, Regular Session). The Board still maintained three members, appointed by the Governor to six year overlapping terms, but the chair was now appointed by the Governor. Also, an Executive Director was hired to handle administrative and other duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Board remained the same. The Board of Control was abolished in 1979 (House Bill 1673, 66th Legislature, Regular Session); its duties and responsibilities were transferred to the newly created Texas State Purchasing and General Services Commission. In 1991, the agency was renamed the General Services Commission. In 2001, the agency wasabolished and replaced by the Building and Procurement Commission, with some functions transferring to other agencies (Senate Bill 311, 77th Legislature, Regular Session). In 2007 the agency was renamed the Texas Facilities Commission and its functions not related to state facilities were transferred to the Texas Comptroller's Office (House Bill, 3560, 80th Legislature, Regular Session). The Texas Facilities Commission retained the functions of building construction and maintenance and purchasing for state facilities/agencies.

(Sources: Guide to Texas State Agencies, various editions; General and Special Laws, various years; and the records themselves.)

The Texas State Board of Control was created in 1919 by the Thirty-sixth Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 147, Regular Session), becoming operational on January 1, 1920. The Board was composed of three members, serving six-year overlapping terms, appointed by the Governor with concurrence of the Senate. The Board elected a chair. The legislation which created the Board also abolished several agencies and offices, transferring their duties to the Board of Control. Offices abolished were the State Expert Printer, State Board of Public Printing, State Purchasing Agent, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, State Inspector of Masonry, and the Boards of Managers of each of the state eleemosynary institutions.

The Board of Control had numerous responsibilities. The Board served as the purchasing agent for state departments, institutions, and agencies, approving requisition orders, purchasing supplies, contracting for printing, and transferring supplies between agencies, etc. The Board also had control and supervision of the state eleemosynary institutions (state schools, hospitals and sanatoriums, orphanages, juvenile training schools), the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, and the State Cemetery. It established rules and regulations for the state eleemosynary institutions and established hospital districts for the state hospitals. Additionally, the Board had joint supervision and maintenance of certain historical state parks (including San Jacinto, Goliad, and Fannin State Parks); and had charge of the custody and maintenance of the Capitol and other State office buildings and their adjoining grounds. In this capacity the Board contracted for all construction, repairs, and improvements made for the eleemosynary institutions and other state agencies; designed and prepared the plans and specifications used in construction projects and machinery and equipment repairs; leased public grounds; rented offices and buildings when needed for state agencies; sold property of the state when no longer needed; and prepared the biennial appropriation budget for the state. These were the primary functions of the Board. Additional duties included administering child welfare activities; supervising the printing and manufacture of cigarette tax stamps; providing photostat (and later microfilm) services and typewriter repair services to state agencies; and maintaining the Bureau of Records as a temporary depository for the permanent records of the state. The Texas Relief Commission was added to the Board in 1934 (House Bill 1, 43rd Legislature, 3rd Called Session) and the Old Age Assistance Commission was added in 1936 (House Bill 8, 44th Legislature, 3rd Called Session). In some instances Board chairmen or members were appointed to or served on other state boards or commissions. In the 1930s the Chairman of the Board, Claude Teer, was appointed to the Locating and Building Board of the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Negroes (upon completion, this sanatorium was turned over to the Board of Control). In the 1940s, Hall Logan, Board member and later Board chairman, also served as the Acting Director of the Postwar Economic Planning Commission.

Over the years, many of the duties of the Board were transferred to other agencies. In 1939 the 46th Legislature (Senate Bill 36, Regular Session) created the Texas State Department of Public Welfare, transferring welfare and assistance responsibilities of the Board to that Department. In 1949 control of all eleemosynary institutions was transferred to the Texas Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools and the Texas Youth Development Council (House Bill 1, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Additional legislation in 1949 (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session) transferred control and custody of all state historical parks, except the San Jacinto State Park and Memorial Tower, Fannin State Park, and the Battleship Texas, to the control and custody of the Texas State Parks Board. Legislation in 1951 transferred preparation of the biennial appropriation budget and all related budget functions to the Governor's Office (Senate Bill 413, 52nd Legislature, Regular Session).

The Board initially established several divisions to handle its responsibilities--Division of Purchasing; Division of Public Printing; Division of Auditing; Division of Eleemosynary Institutions; Division of Design, Construction and Maintenance; and Division of Estimates and Appropriations. The Division of Child Welfare and the Centennial Division were later added and others were created (and consolidated or abolished) as needed. As the Board lost many of its responsibilities in the 1940s and 1950s, many of these divisions were abolished. By the mid-1950s the Board's divisions reflected its restructured roles of purchasing-related activities; construction, maintenance, and repairs; oversight; and other duties. In 1956 the Board was organized into the Main Division, Purchasing Division, Division of Printing, Claims Division, Design and Construction Division, Division of Buildings and Grounds, and Cigarette Stamp Tax Purchaser (not actually a division). By 1970 additional divisions reflected the Board's role of providing security and centralized services to state agencies. These included providing telephone and mail services, operating a centralized supply store, and performing property inventories. Divisions in 1972 were the Purchasing Division, Centralized Services Division, Automatic Data Processing Division, Building and Property Services Division, and the Security Division.

In 1953 the Board of Control was reorganized (Senate Bill 77, 53rd Legislature, Regular Session). The Board still maintained three members, appointed by the Governor to six year overlapping terms, but the chair was now appointed by the Governor. Also, an Executive Director was hired to handle administrative and other duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Board remained the same. The Board of Control was abolished in 1979 (House Bill 1673, 66th Legislature, Regular Session); its duties and responsibilities were transferred to the newly created Texas State Purchasing and General Services Commission. In 1991, the agency was renamed the General Services Commission. In 2001, the agency wasabolished and replaced by the Building and Procurement Commission, with some functions transferring to other agencies (Senate Bill 311, 77th Legislature, Regular Session). In 2007 the agency was renamed the Texas Facilities Commission and its functions not related to state facilities were transferred to the Texas Comptroller's Office (House Bill, 3560, 80th Legislature, Regular Session). The Texas Facilities Commission retained the functions of building construction and maintenance and purchasing for state facilities/agencies.

(Sources: Guide to Texas State Agencies, various editions; General and Special Laws, various years; and the records themselves.)

The Texas State Board of Control was created in 1919 by the Thirty-sixth Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 147, Regular Session), becoming operational on January 1, 1920. The Board was composed of three members, serving six-year overlapping terms, appointed by the Governor with concurrence of the Senate. The Board elected a chair. The legislation which created the Board also abolished several agencies and offices, transferring their duties to the Board of Control. Offices abolished were the State Expert Printer, State Board of Public Printing, State Purchasing Agent, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, State Inspector of Masonry, and the Boards of Managers of each of the state eleemosynary institutions.

The Board of Control had numerous responsibilities. The Board served as the purchasing agent for state departments, institutions, and agencies, approving requisition orders, purchasing supplies, contracting for printing, and transferring supplies between agencies, etc. The Board also had control and supervision of the state eleemosynary institutions (state schools, hospitals and sanatoriums, orphanages, juvenile training schools), the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, and the State Cemetery. It established rules and regulations for the state eleemosynary institutions and established hospital districts for the state hospitals. Additionally, the Board had joint supervision and maintenance of certain historical state parks (including San Jacinto, Goliad, and Fannin State Parks); and had charge of the custody and maintenance of the Capitol and other State office buildings and their adjoining grounds. In this capacity the Board contracted for all construction, repairs, and improvements made for the eleemosynary institutions and other state agencies; designed and prepared the plans and specifications used in construction projects and machinery and equipment repairs; leased public grounds; rented offices and buildings when needed for state agencies; sold property of the state when no longer needed; and prepared the biennial appropriation budget for the state. These were the primary functions of the Board. Additional duties included administering child welfare activities; supervising the printing and manufacture of cigarette tax stamps; providing photostat (and later microfilm) services and typewriter repair services to state agencies; and maintaining the Bureau of Records as a temporary depository for the permanent records of the state. The Texas Relief Commission was added to the Board in 1934 (House Bill 1, 43rd Legislature, 3rd Called Session) and the Old Age Assistance Commission was added in 1936 (House Bill 8, 44th Legislature, 3rd Called Session). In some instances Board chairmen or members were appointed to or served on other state boards or commissions. In the 1930s the Chairman of the Board, Claude Teer, was appointed to the Locating and Building Board of the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Negroes (upon completion, this sanatorium was turned over to the Board of Control). In the 1940s, Hall Logan, Board member and later Board chairman, also served as the Acting Director of the Postwar Economic Planning Commission.

Over the years, many of the duties of the Board were transferred to other agencies. In 1939 the 46th Legislature (Senate Bill 36, Regular Session) created the Texas State Department of Public Welfare, transferring welfare and assistance responsibilities of the Board to that Department. In 1949 control of all eleemosynary institutions was transferred to the Texas Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools and the Texas Youth Development Council (House Bill 1, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). Additional legislation in 1949 (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session) transferred control and custody of all state historical parks, except the San Jacinto State Park and Memorial Tower, Fannin State Park, and the Battleship Texas, to the control and custody of the Texas State Parks Board. Legislation in 1951 transferred preparation of the biennial appropriation budget and all related budget functions to the Governor's Office (Senate Bill 413, 52nd Legislature, Regular Session).

The Board initially established several divisions to handle its responsibilities--Division of Purchasing; Division of Public Printing; Division of Auditing; Division of Eleemosynary Institutions; Division of Design, Construction and Maintenance; and Division of Estimates and Appropriations. The Division of Child Welfare and the Centennial Division were later added and others were created (and consolidated or abolished) as needed. As the Board lost many of its responsibilities in the 1940s and 1950s, many of these divisions were abolished. By the mid-1950s the Board's divisions reflected its restructured roles of purchasing-related activities; construction, maintenance, and repairs; oversight; and other duties. In 1956 the Board was organized into the Main Division, Purchasing Division, Division of Printing, Claims Division, Design and Construction Division, Division of Buildings and Grounds, and Cigarette Stamp Tax Purchaser (not actually a division). By 1970 additional divisions reflected the Board's role of providing security and centralized services to state agencies. These included providing telephone and mail services, operating a centralized supply store, and performing property inventories. Divisions in 1972 were the Purchasing Division, Centralized Services Division, Automatic Data Processing Division, Building and Property Services Division, and the Security Division.

In 1953 the Board of Control was reorganized (Senate Bill 77, 53rd Legislature, Regular Session). The Board still maintained three members, appointed by the Governor to six year overlapping terms, but the chair was now appointed by the Governor. Also, an Executive Director was hired to handle administrative and other duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Board remained the same. The Board of Control was abolished in 1979 (House Bill 1673, 66th Legislature, Regular Session); its duties and responsibilities were transferred to the newly created Texas State Purchasing and General Services Commission. In 1991, the agency was renamed the General Services Commission. In 2001, the agency wasabolished and replaced by the Building and Procurement Commission, with some functions transferring to other agencies (Senate Bill 311, 77th Legislature, Regular Session). In 2007 the agency was renamed the Texas Facilities Commission and its functions not related to state facilities were transferred to the Texas Comptroller's Office (House Bill, 3560, 80th Legislature, Regular Session). The Texas Facilities Commission retained the functions of building construction and maintenance and purchasing for state facilities/agencies.

(Sources: Guide to Texas State Agencies, various editions; General and Special Laws, various years; and the records themselves.)