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“What’s New” on FMX

December, 2016

Recovery Audit Report Now Available

By Jan. 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is statutorily required to report to the Legislature the results of overpayment recovery audits of certain state agencies.

Administering Overpayment Recovery Audits in the State of Texas Fiscal 2014 through 2016 is now available on the Recovery Audit Reports page.

Mileage Reimbursement Rate Decreases to 53.5 Cents on Jan. 1

The maximum state mileage reimbursement rate for state employee travel in a personal vehicle will decrease from 54.0 cents to 53.5 cents per mile, effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2017. This rate is consistent with the Internal Revenue Service’s standard mileage rate.

Note: State agencies may adopt an internal policy for a rate that is lower than the maximum rate; however, the agency must distribute the internal policy before their employees begin any travel.

See Current Rates or Transportation: Mileage in Personal Vehicle in Textravel for more information.

Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Post-Payment Audit Reports Have Been Posted

The Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Post-Payment Audit Reports are now available for view, print and download. For more audit resources including Fiscal Policies and Procedures, forms and contact information, see the Audit topic page on FMX.

To receive email notifications on each audit report posted, subscribe via GovDelivery.

Reminder – Warrant Pickup Available 8 to 10 a.m. on Dec. 23 and Jan. 2

Warrant pickup will be available only from 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Jan. 2. For more information, see Holiday Payment Distribution.

Reminder – Check Direct Deposit Settlement Dates

State and federal holidays listed on the System Outages and Holidays Calendar with no scheduled USAS cycle are excluded when determining the direct deposit settlement date of a payment.

Since financial institutions are closed, no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must exclude these dates when determining when to process their payments to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.

Note: If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, please see the Batch File Submission Calendar.

Warrant Pickup Available 8 to 10 a.m. on Dec. 23 and Jan. 2

Warrant pickup will be available only from 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Jan. 2. For more information, see Holiday Payment Distribution.

Check Direct Deposit Settlement Dates

State and federal holidays listed on the System Outages and Holidays Calendar with no scheduled USAS cycle are excluded when determining the direct deposit effective settlement date of a payment.

Since financial institutions are closed, no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must exclude these dates when determining when to process their payments to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.

Note: If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, please see the Batch File Submission Calendar.

Jan. 2 Direct Deposit Payments

Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 is a banking holiday, observed by the Federal Reserve and most financial institutions.

According to state law, Jan. 2 is considered the first working day following the December 2016 pay period, making it pay day.

As a result, payroll warrants will be dated Jan. 2, 2017. While direct deposit payments will be transmitted to financial institutions before and with the payment date of Jan. 2, those institutions are not required to post payments on the banking holiday. Consequently, some employees’ funds may not be available until Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Supplemental direct deposit payrolls and regular vendor (bills) payments will also be affected. Payments that process through USAS and payrolls that process through USPS and SPRS/CAPPS on Thursday, Dec. 29, will be transmitted with a payment date of Jan. 2. Consequently, employees’ and payees’ funds may not be available until Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Employees and payees with direct deposit should check with their financial institutions to confirm when their funds will be available. This is especially important if the employee or vendor has established automatic withdrawals on Jan. 2.

Reminder — Deadline Approaching for First Quarter Veteran Workforce Summary Reports

The online quarterly Veteran Workforce Summary Report acknowledgment form (with required complaint reporting included) must be submitted by Dec. 23.

For more information, please see Veteran Workforce Summary Reports and Veteran Complaint Reporting (FPP F.038).

CAPPS HR/Payroll: Production Maintenance Dec. 4

The CAPPS HR/Payroll Production environments will undergo maintenance to the Linux file server cluster on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 9 a.m. During this time, the following environments will be unavailable:

  • HCMPRD1 – CAPPS HR/Payroll Production
  • HCMRPT1 – CAPPS HR/Payroll Reporting
  • PIHPRD1 – CAPPS Portal Production

In addition, the CPA Infrastructure Mainframe will undergo scheduled maintenance on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 5 to 10 a.m. in order to perform USPS database maintenance. The following web services will be unavailable:

  • New Hire
  • 90 Day Wait
  • Lump Sum
  • Ping

CAPPS Financials: Production Maintenance Dec. 4

The CAPPS Financials Production environments will undergo maintenance to the Linux file server cluster on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 9 a.m. During this time, the following environments will be unavailable:

  • FINPRD1 – CAPPS Financials Production
  • FINRPT1 – CAPPS Financials Reporting
  • PIHPRD1 – CAPPS Portal Production

CAPPS HR/Payroll: Do not run On-Cycle until Dec. 6

Please do not run December On-Cycle payrolls until Tuesday, Dec. 6. The CAPPS Support team is working on getting the SECC file uploaded for 2017 deductions and working on 2017 tax tables, both of which impact December’s paychecks.

First Quarter Payables and Binding Encumbrances Must Be Reported by Dec. 30

State agencies and institutions of higher education must report payables and binding encumbrances for first quarter fiscal 2017 in all open appropriations no later than Dec. 30 to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Quarterly certification must be entered in the online form.

For more information, see Encumbrance Report and Lapsing of Appropriations (APS 018).

Reminder – USPS Unavailable Dec. 10 for CYE File Split

USPS will be unavailable all day Saturday, Dec. 10, while we conduct the calendar year-end (CYE) file split.

All USPS payrolls finalized after the 2016/2017 file split must have a warrant date in calendar year 2017 and will be reflected in the 2017 files.

For more information, see USPS Calendar Year-End Close Process (FPP R.014).

For questions, please contact the USPS Help Desk at (512) 463-4008 or your assigned USPS representative.

Federal Overtime Changes Effective Dec. 1 Blocked by Court

On Nov. 22, 2016, a federal district court in Texas enjoined nationwide implementation of the Labor Department’s final overtime rule that was scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1.

Judge Amos Mazzant, ruling on a consolidated lawsuit brought by 21 states and a business coalition, concluded that the executive, administrative or professional employee exemption contained in FLSA Sec. 13(a)(1) does not grant the Department the authority to utilize a salary-level test or an automatic salary updating mechanism under the rule.

Agencies and institutions should refrain from making any FLSA and overtime exemption changes related to this rule until further direction is received.

See Federal Overtime Changes Effective Dec. 1, 2016, Blocked by Court for additional information.

Note: The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts does not provide guidance on matters related to the FLSA and overtime exemptions.

ACA 1094C and 1095C Reporting Requirements Now Available

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) requires employers to offer affordable health insurance that provides minimum essential coverage to their full-time (and full-time equivalent) employees and their dependents or incur tax penalties.

The Comptroller’s office has issued ACA 1094C and 1095C Reporting Requirements (FPP F.039). The most important thing to note is that your agency is responsible for 1094-C and 1095-C reporting.

USPS and CAPPS Central Agencies are required to update 1094-C contact information by Dec. 31, 2016.

Please review this guidance for how it affects your agency. If applicable, agencies must submit the new Designation of Government Entity for ACA Reporting form to the Comptroller’s office by Dec. 31.