“What’s New” for SPA

05/06/22	New SPA Tutorials New SPA Tutorials New video tutorials offer policy and procedure training for the Statewide Property Accounting (SPA) system. Topics include capital asset tracking, reporting and accounting. See Web-Based Training and Tutorials for more information.
05/06/22	Reminder – Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Reminder – Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
03/18/22	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education sometimes send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. Email is not a secured transmission. Agencies must send confidential information as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
02/11/22	New Name and Email for Fiscal Management Security Team New Name and Email for Fiscal Management Security Team The Statewide Fiscal Systems (SFS) Security team’s name has changed to Statewide Security Administration (SSA). Effective Feb. 14, the support email address (SFS.security@cpa.texas.gov) will be replaced with SSA.security@cpa.texas.gov. This email account is primarily for agency security coordinators to send questions/correspondence to the SSA team. Security access requests must still be submitted via the Security Request System. Agencies should: Confirm with IT departments that the new SSA address is not subject to security filters. Update internal contact lists and web pages to reflect both the new email (SSA.Security@cpa.texas.gov) and the new name (Statewide Security Administration). NOTE: The old SFS email account will not receive messages after Tuesday, March 15. Agency security coordinators may contact the SSA team with questions.
01/28/22	Reminder – Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Reminder – Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/21/22	Reminder – Upgrade to TLS 1.2 by Jan. 30 Reminder – Upgrade to TLS 1.2 by Jan. 30 The Comptroller’s office will disable two transport layer security (TLS) protocols, 1.0 and 1.1, on Jan. 30. After that, only TLS 1.2 connections will work. This update is needed to correct security vulnerabilities. This change will impact all connections to Comptroller systems, so be sure your information technology team is aware of the upgrade. The Comptroller’s office alerted state agencies to the upcoming change in September and has worked with agencies to replace the older protocols. See Microsoft’s update for more information.
01/14/22	Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Deadline to Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/03/22	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page or appropriate topic page on FMX before submitting a form to ensure you submit the current version. Previously downloaded forms or stored links might be outdated. You’ll find a link to the Forms page at the top of any FMX page. Also, FMX topic pages such as Appropriations or Payment Services feature links to related forms.
12/15/21	Upgrade to TLS 1.2 Required by Jan. 30 Upgrade to TLS 1.2 Required by Jan. 30 The Comptroller’s office will disable two transport layer security (TLS) protocols, 1.0 and 1.1, on Jan. 30, 2022. After that, only TLS 1.2 connections will work. This update is needed to correct security vulnerabilities. This change could impact any connection to Comptroller systems, so be sure your informational technology team is aware of the upgrade. The Comptroller’s office alerted state agencies to the upcoming change in September and has worked with agencies to replace the older protocols. See Microsoft’s update for more information.
10/08/21	Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines State agencies (and institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with their annual financial reports (AFRs). Due dates for certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application are: Sept. 20 — GR consolidated agencies Oct. 20 — Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 — Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User's Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
09/17/21	Reminder – Take the 2021 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Reminder – Take the 2021 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 24. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov.
09/10/21	Take the 2021 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Take the 2021 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 24. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov.
09/03/21	Reminder – Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 Reminder – Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 will be decommissioned Sept. 8. Customers must upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 before that date. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for installation instructions. Note: If you have trouble connecting to the FMX site or downloading BlueZone, contact your IT support to determine if your agency security policies or firewalls are blocking access.
09/03/21	Reminder – Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Reminder – Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due State agencies must conduct an annual physical inventory of property by Aug. 31. Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20. See Certification of Physical Inventory in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process Users Guide for details.
09/03/21	Reminder – Property Transfers Deadline Reminder – Property Transfers Deadline Enter property transfers in SPA by Sept. 20 so GR consolidated agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
08/27/21	Reminder – Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 Reminder – Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 will be decommissioned Sept. 8. Customers must upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 before that date. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for installation instructions. Note: If you have trouble connecting to the FMX site or downloading BlueZone, contact your IT support to determine if your agency security policies or firewalls are blocking access.
08/27/21	Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines State agencies (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with their annual financial reports (AFRs). Due dates for certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application are: Sept. 20 — GR consolidated agencies Oct. 20 — Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 — Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
08/19/21	Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 will be decommissioned Sept. 8. Customers must upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 before that date. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for installation instructions. Note: If you have trouble accessing instructions or downloading BlueZone, contact your IT support to determine if your agency security policies or firewalls are blocking access.
08/13/21	87th Legislature GAA Updates 87th Legislature GAA Updates The 87th Legislature updated Article IX of the General Appropriations Act (GAA); changes take effect Sept. 1. See Changes to Article IX of the GAA and Other Bills of Interest to State Agencies (FPP F.008) for a summary of GAA changes and other legislation that affects state agencies.
08/13/21	Reminder – Systems Unavailable During Year-End Close Reminder – Systems Unavailable During Year-End Close The USAS annual cash-basis close for fiscal 2021 occurs on Aug. 31. The fiscal year-end close process requires shutting down the statewide fiscal systems. See Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events for more information, including: Processing deadlines System maintenance dates and times Support contacts
08/10/21	Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 Upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 by Sept. 8 BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 will be decommissioned on Sept. 8. Customers must upgrade to BlueZone Web-to-Host 7.1 before that date. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for installation instructions. Note: If you have trouble connecting to the FMX site or downloading BlueZone, contact your IT support to determine if your agency security policies or firewalls are blocking access. Customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 can leave that version installed; it will not conflict with version 7.1. After Sept. 8, BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 will no longer connect to the CPA mainframe and will redirect to a Comptroller.Texas.Gov welcome page. Agencies and institutions may also use other TN3270E emulation software equivalent to BlueZone. See Alternative Emulator Configuration Settings (login required) in FPP N.007 or contact Information Technology Support at your agency or institution for assistance.
08/06/21	Property Transfers Deadline Property Transfers Deadline Enter property transfers in SPA by Sept. 20 so GR consolidated agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. Universities that do not report to SPA must follow the reporting requirements in Capital Asset Note Preparation to report external transfers. Transfers between two external agencies cannot be entered into SPA. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
08/06/21	SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Process SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Process The last SPA processing cycle before the fiscal year-end close runs Aug. 31. SPA will be available Sept. 2 to accept both fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 transactions. See SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Process (FPP N.008) for more information.
07/30/21	SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines State agencies (and institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with their annual financial reports (AFRs). Due dates for certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application are: Sept. 20 — GR consolidated agencies Oct. 20 — Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 — Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
07/23/21	Certification of Physical Inventory Due Certification of Physical Inventory Due State agencies must conduct an annual physical inventory of property by Aug. 31. Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20. See Certification of Physical Inventory in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process Users Guide for details.
07/02/21	Fiscal Year-End Close Schedule Fiscal Year-End Close Schedule See the 2021 Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events, which includes: Processing deadlines System maintenance dates and times Support contacts
06/04/21	BlueZone Web-to-Host Upgrade Postponed BlueZone Web-to-Host Upgrade Postponed Customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 may continue using this version until further notice. We recommend that you upgrade to Web-to-Host 7.1 at your earliest convenience; see Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for more information and installation instructions. The Comptroller’s office will announce the new decommission date for Web-to-Host 5.2 shortly.
05/21/21	Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 All customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 must upgrade to the latest version, 7.1, by June 1, when the current version will be decommissioned on Comptroller systems. Note: If you or your IT support already downloaded and installed BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 from FMX, you must upgrade to the latest 7.1 version. If your agency or office has its own licensed version of BlueZone or another 3270 emulator, you can continue using it to connect to the Comptroller’s mainframe. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for more information and installation instructions. Agencies and institutions may also use other TN3270E emulation software equivalent to BlueZone. See Alternative Emulator Configuration Settings (login required) in FPP N.007, or contact information technology support at your agency for help.
05/14/21	Reminder – Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Reminder – Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
05/07/21	Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 All customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 must upgrade to the latest version, 7.1, by June 1, when the current version will be decommissioned on Comptroller systems. Note: If you or your IT support already downloaded and installed BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 from FMX, you must upgrade to the latest 7.1 version. If your agency or office has its own licensed version of BlueZone or another 3270 emulator, you can continue using it to connect to the Comptroller’s mainframe. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for more information and installation instructions. Agencies and institutions may also use other TN3270E emulation software equivalent to BlueZone. See Alternative Emulator Configuration Settings (login required) in FPP N.007, or contact information technology support at your agency for help.
04/30/21	Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 Reminder – Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 All customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 must upgrade to the latest version, 7.1, by June 1, when the current version will be decommissioned on Comptroller systems. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for more information and installation instructions. Agencies and institutions may also use other TN3270E emulation software equivalent to BlueZone. See Alternative Emulator Configuration Settings (login required) in FPP N.007, or contact information technology support at your agency for help.
04/16/21	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education sometimes send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. Email is not a secure transmission. Agencies must send confidential information as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
02/26/21	Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 Upgrade BlueZone Web-to-Host by June 1 All customers using BlueZone Web-to-Host 5.2 must upgrade to the latest version, 7.1, by June 1, when the current version will be decommissioned on Comptroller systems. See Requirements for Transmitting Comptroller Information (FPP N.007) (login required) for more information and installation instructions. Agencies and institutions may also use other TN3270E emulation software equivalent to BlueZone. See Alternative Emulator Configuration Settings (login required) in FPP N.007 or contact information technology support at your agency or institution for help.
02/18/21	Warrant Distribution Delayed Due to Inclement Weather Warrant Distribution Delayed Due to Inclement Weather Weather permitting, warrant pickup will be available on Friday, Feb. 19 from noon – 4 p.m. Agencies may call (512) 475-5329 beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday to confirm that warrants will be available for distribution. On days the Comptroller’s office is closed but warrant pickup is available, your authorized representative must have photo identification and a cell phone to call (512) 475-5329 upon arrival at the LBJ building if no guard is present.
02/17/21	Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Due to inclement weather, the Comptroller’s office will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 18. Warrants will not be distributed on this day. Additional Comptroller office closures or delayed openings will be announced here on FMX.
02/16/21	Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Due to inclement weather, the Comptroller’s office will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Warrants will not be distributed on this day. Additional Comptroller office closures or delayed openings will be announced here on FMX.
02/15/21	Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Warrant Distribution Canceled Due to Inclement Weather Due to inclement weather, the Comptroller’s office will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Warrants will not be distributed on this day. Additional Comptroller office closures or delayed openings will be announced here on FMX.
02/12/21	Reminder — Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Reminder — Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/29/21	Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Deadline To Request Unclaimed Funds Unclaimed property transferred to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. Money not claimed by May 31 will be deposited into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/04/21	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page or appropriate topic page before submitting a form to ensure you submit the current version. Previously downloaded forms or stored links might be outdated. You’ll find a link to the Forms page at the top of any page. Also, topic pages such as Appropriations or Payment Services feature links to related forms.
11/13/20	Reminder — System Maintenance Nov. 21 Reminder — System Maintenance Nov. 21 All mainframe systems (USAS, TINS, SPRS, USPS, SPA, HRIS) and CAPPS web services will be unavailable on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for scheduled hardware maintenance. CAPPS systems will remain available during this time.
11/06/20	System Maintenance Nov. 21 System Maintenance Nov. 21 All mainframe systems (USAS, TINS, SPRS, USPS, SPA, HRIS) and CAPPS web services will be unavailable on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for scheduled hardware maintenance. CAPPS systems will remain available during this time. Mainframe data extracts and reports that are scheduled to run during this outage will need to be processed after maintenance is completed. CAPPS batch jobs that interface with mainframe systems will be placed on hold and run after 7 p.m. on Saturday. Note: CAPPS agencies should not process any new hires while the web service is down, as the interface will not occur.
10/09/20	Reminder — SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Reminder — SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Oct. 20 — Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 — Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
09/18/20	Reminder — Take the Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Reminder — Take the Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 25. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov.
09/11/20	Take the 2020 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey Take the 2020 Fiscal Management Customer Service Survey How well are we meeting your customer service expectations? Please let us know by completing the online survey by Friday, Sept. 25. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please email us at fiscal.documentation@cpa.texas.gov.
09/04/20	Reminder — Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Reminder — Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Each year, state agency property managers must conduct a physical inventory of the trust, capitalized and controlled personal property in the agency’s possession by Aug. 31. (Libraries, historical arts and treasures are excluded from this requirement.) Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20 for fiscal 2020 with the signature of the agency head or designee. See Certification of Physical Inventory in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process Users Guide for details.
09/04/20	Reminder — Property Transfers Deadline Reminder — Property Transfers Deadline Sept. 20 is the deadline to enter property transfers in SPA so GR consolidated agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
08/28/20	Reminder — SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Reminder — SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Oct. 20 – Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 – Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
08/14/20	Reminder — Systems Unavailable During Year-End Close Reminder — Systems Unavailable During Year-End Close The USAS annual cash-basis close for fiscal 2020 occurs Aug. 31. The fiscal year-end close process requires shutting down the statewide fiscal systems. See Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events for more information, including: Processing deadlines System maintenance dates and times Support contacts
08/07/20	Property Transfers Deadline Property Transfers Deadline Sept. 20 is the deadline to enter property transfers in SPA so GR consolidated agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. Universities that do not report to SPA must follow the reporting requirements in Capital Asset Note Preparation to report external transfers. Note: Transfers between two external agencies cannot be entered into SPA. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
07/31/20	SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Oct. 20 — Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 — Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
07/24/20	Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Each year, state agency property managers must conduct a physical inventory of the trust, capitalized and controlled personal property in the agency’s possession by Aug. 31. (Libraries, historical arts and treasures are excluded from this requirement.) Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20 for fiscal 2020 with the signature of the agency head or designee.
07/02/20	Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events See the 2020 Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events, which includes: Processing deadlines System maintenance dates and times Support contacts
05/01/20	Reminder – Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Reminder – Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Unclaimed property turned over to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. If agencies and institutions do not claim property by May 31, the Comptroller's office deposits the money into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
03/26/20	Action Required: Comptroller’s Mainframe SSL Certificate Changing Action Required: Comptroller’s Mainframe SSL Certificate Changing The secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate chain for the Comptroller’s production mainframe is changing Sunday, April 5, because the previous Comodo CA certificates are expiring. Agencies must add the new certificate before April 5. Do not delete the current certificate. This impacts anyone going to mvs1.cpa.state.tx.us using SSL, notably (but not exclusively) file transfer protocol secure (FTPS) transfers. The certificate is currently available for download. See Comptroller’s Mainframe Certificate Changing for more information. Contact your agency security coordinator (ASC) and technical team with questions about certificate/key installation and configuration. For additional help, contact the Comptroller’s office help desk at help.desk@cpa.texas.gov or (512) 463-HELP.
03/20/20	Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management Encrypt Confidential Emails to Fiscal Management State agencies and institutions of higher education might need to send documents with confidential information to Fiscal Management. Email is not a secured transmission. Agencies must send confidential information as an encrypted email attachment as prescribed by your agency’s information security policy. See Confidential Information Must Be Encrypted Before Emailing to Fiscal Management (FPP D.004) for details.
01/31/20	New SPA Surplus Asset Report Available New SPA Surplus Asset Report Available A new comma-separated value (CSV) report that lists properties in surplus disposal methods is now available to all agencies. This report generates nightly and is available for daily download. See ACR 60270 for more information.
01/31/20	Reminder – Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Reminder – Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Unclaimed property turned over to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. If agencies and institutions do not claim property by May 31, the Comptroller's office deposits the money into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/03/20	Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Unclaimed property turned over to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. If agencies and institutions do not claim property by May 31, the Comptroller’s office deposits the money into unappropriated general revenue. See Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.
01/03/20	Current Forms Always Available on FMX Current Forms Always Available on FMX Check the Forms page or appropriate topic page on FMX before submitting a form to ensure you submit the current version. Previously downloaded forms or stored links might be outdated. You’ll find a link to the Forms page at the top of any FMX page. Forms can be sorted alphabetically, numerically or by topic. Also, FMX topic pages such as Appropriations or Payment Services feature links to related forms.
12/13/19	Coming Soon: New Look for FMX Coming Soon: New Look for FMX Fiscal Management’s website will have a new look in 2020. FMX will remain your resource for fiscal policies, procedures and forms, and bookmarks will still navigate to your favorite pages. The rollout is planned for January.
09/27/19	Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Sept. 28 – Simplified reporting agencies Oct. 20 – Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 – Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
09/06/19	Reminder – Complete Property Transfers by Sept. 20 Reminder – Complete Property Transfers by Sept. 20 Sept. 20 is the deadline to enter property transfers in SPA so that simplified reporting agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
08/30/19	Reminder – 2019 Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Sept. 20 Reminder – 2019 Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Sept. 20 The property manager of each state agency must conduct an annual physical inventory of the trust, capitalized and controlled personal property (excluding libraries and historical arts and treasures) in the agency’s possession, per Texas Government Code, Section 403.273. The inventory must be completed by Aug. 31. Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20 for fiscal 2019 with the signature of the agency head or designee. See Certification of Physical Inventory in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process Users Guide for more information.
08/30/19	Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching Reminder – SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Sept. 28 – Simplified reporting agencies Oct. 20 – Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 – Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
08/16/19	Summary of Changes Made by the 86th Legislature Summary of Changes Made by the 86th Legislature The 86th Legislature made many changes to Article IX of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) that take effect Sept. 1. See Changes to Article IX of the GAA and Other Bills of Interest to State Agencies (FPP F.008) for a summary of these changes and major bills passed that affect state agencies.
08/16/19	Reminder – Systems Will Be Unavailable During Year-End Close Reminder – Systems Will Be Unavailable During Year-End Close The USAS annual cash-basis close for fiscal 2019 will occur Aug. 30. The fiscal year-end close process requires shutting down the statewide fiscal systems. For more information, please see the Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events, which includes: Processing deadlines The dates and times the online systems will be unavailable Contacts for any issues
08/09/19	SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Processing Dates and Activities SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Processing Dates and Activities The final SPA processing cycle before the fiscal year-end closeout runs Friday evening, Aug. 30. SPA should be available Sept. 3 to accept both fiscal 2019 and 2020 transactions. See SPA Fiscal Year-End Close Process (FPP N.008) for more information.
08/02/19	Complete Property Transfers by Sept. 20 Complete Property Transfers by Sept. 20 Sept. 20 is the deadline to enter property transfers in SPA so simplified reporting agencies can complete their fiscal year-end reconciliations. Universities that do not report to SPA must follow the reporting requirements in Capital Asset Note Preparation to report external transfers. Transfers between two external agencies cannot be entered into SPA. See Transferring Property in Chapter 7 of the SPA Process User Guide for complete instructions.
08/02/19	SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching SPA/AFR Reconciliation Deadlines Approaching Each state agency (and institution of higher education reporting to SPA) must annually reconcile SPA ending balances with its annual financial report (AFR) by certifying SPA fiscal balances and Note 2 using the Capital Asset Note Submission System (CANSS) web application. Due dates are: Sept. 28 – Simplified reporting agencies Oct. 20 – Full reporting agencies Nov. 1 – Consolidated university systems (applies only to institutions of higher education reporting to SPA) See SPA Fiscal Year-End Reconciliation and Certification of Fiscal Balances in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process User’s Guide (FPP N.005) for more information.
07/26/19	2019 Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Sept. 20 2019 Certification of Physical Inventory Form Due Sept. 20 The property manager of each state agency must conduct an annual physical inventory of the trust, capitalized and controlled personal property (excluding libraries and historical arts and treasures) in the agency’s possession, per Texas Government Code, Section 403.273. The inventory must be completed by Aug. 31. Agencies must then submit the Certification of Physical Inventory Conducted by Agency (73-283) form to the Comptroller’s office by Sept. 20for fiscal 2019 with the signature of the agency head or designee. See Certification of Physical Inventory in Chapter 2 of the SPA Process Users Guide for more information.
07/08/19	Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events Set Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events Set See the 2019 Master Schedule of Year-End Close Events that includes: Processing deadlines System maintenance dates and times Support contacts
07/08/19	USAS and CAPPS Financials FPPs Updated USAS and CAPPS Financials FPPs Updated The fiscal 2019 USAS annual cash-basis close occurs on Friday, Aug. 30. The instructions, including important deadlines for submitting documents, are now available in USAS Annual Close Process (FPP Q.004). See Scheduling Critical Payments at Year-End for detailed information by appropriation year, including deadlines. Agencies using CAPPS Financials need to also follow CAPPS Financials Year-End Processing Instructions (FPP T.001).
05/10/19	Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Agencies Must Request Unclaimed Funds by May 31 Unclaimed property turned over to the state includes property that might belong to state agencies or institutions of higher education. If agencies and institutions do not claim property by May 31, the Comptroller’s office deposits the money into unappropriated General Revenue. See the Unclaimed Property Annual Notification for more information, including contact information for the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.