TITLE 25. HEALTH SERVICES

PART 11. CANCER PREVENTION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS

CHAPTER 703. GRANTS FOR CANCER PREVENTION AND RESEARCH

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas ("CPRIT" or "the Institute") adopts the amendments to 25 Texas Administrative Code §703.13 and §703.26 without changes to the proposed amendments as published in the December 6, 2024, issue of the Texas Register (49 TexReg 9888); therefore, the rules will not be republished.

Reasoned Justification

The amendment to § 703.13(b) increases the grant recipient audit threshold from $750,000 to $1 million. The amendment harmonizes CPRIT's administrative rules with recent changes to the Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS) published by the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

The amendment to § 703.26(e) adds the following as an unallowable expense for grant recipients, "Reimbursements to employees for their out-of-pocket health insurance premium or other health care expenses which are not made through an employer-sponsored plan established under Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code." For these expenses to be considered fringe benefits that are reimbursable from CPRIT grant funds, the employer must have an established health reimbursement arrangement program under Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code. Thus, this amendment clarifies that CPRIT program standards for reimbursements conform to other relevant laws.

Lastly, the non-substantive, technical amendment to § 703.26(b) replaces an outdated reference to the Uniform Grant Management Standards (UGMS) with a reference to TxGMS.

Summary of Public Comments and Staff Recommendation

CPRIT received no public comments regarding the proposed amendments to §§ 703.13 and 703.26. CPRIT staff recommends moving forward with adoption of the amendments.

The rule changes are adopted under the authority of the Texas Health and Safety Code Annotated, § 102.108, which provides the Institute with broad rule-making authority to administer the chapter, including rules for awarding grants.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 20, 2025.

TRD-202500647

Heidi McConnell

Deputy Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

Effective date: March 12, 2025

Proposal publication date: December 6, 2024

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3190