TITLE attorney-general

Opinions

Opinion No. JC-0336

The Honorable Laura Garza Jimenez Nueces County Attorney 901 Leopard, Room 207 Corpus Christi, Texas 78401-3680

Re: Whether a police chief who has authority under a collective-bargaining agreement to finally select the senior officer who will be promoted to lieutenant may promote his nephew to a vacant lieutenant position, and related questions (RQ-0283-JC)

S U M M A R Y

A police chief who, under a collective-bargaining agreement, exercises discretion to finally select from a list of three qualified senior officers one person to promote to lieutenant, may not select his nephew. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 573.062(b) (Vernon 1994). A collective- bargaining agreement may be amended to take from the chief final authority to decide promotions where the chief's close relative is among the list of those qualified and to give final authority in that instance to another city official. If a collective-bargaining agreement is so amended, the nephew may be promoted by the other official to lieutenant. The police chief may allocate duties among lieutenants, including a newly promoted nephew, as he or she deems necessary to accomplish the functions of the office. A changed assignment may not, as a matter of fact, change the related employee's status.

Opinion No. JC-0337

Mr. Thomas A. Davis, Jr., Director Texas Department of Public Safety P.O. Box 4087 Austin, Texas 78773-0001

Re: Proper use of magnetic stripe information on a driver's license (RQ-0316-JC)

S U M M A R Y

Magnetic stripe information contained on a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety may be utilized only by law enforcement and other governmental agency personnel acting in their official capacities.

Opinion No. JC-0338

The Honorable Jim Solis Chair, Committee on Economic Development Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Whether an Economic Development Board may vote to approve funding for a business owned by a member of the board (RQ-0279-JC)

S U M M A R Y

The board of an economic development corporation may not approve a loan to a director of the corporation. An economic development corporation is not prohibited by law from entering into other transactions with a member of the board or with an entity in which a board member is interested if it complies with the provisions of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act governing transactions between corporations and directors, or, in the event the corporation bylaws impose a stricter standard, with the bylaws.

Opinion No. JC-0339

The Honorable Rodney Ellis Chair, Finance Committee Texas State Senate P.O. Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711-2068

Re: Whether an individual may simultaneously serve as director of a municipal utility district and member of the city zoning commission (RQ-0281-JC)

S U M M A R Y

A director of a Municipal Utility District holds a public office, as does a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Missouri City. Because the duties of the two offices are in conflict where they have overlapping jurisdiction, the common-law doctrine of incompatibility bars one person from holding both offices. A Missouri City ordinance also prohibits a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission from holding another public office while serving as a Planning and Zoning Commission member.

Opinion No. JC-0340

The Honorable Jim Solis Chair, Committee on Economic Development Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Eligibility of a police officer for a promotional examination under the terms of section 143.031 of the Local Government Code (RQ-0282-JC)

S U M M A R Y

Police officers who have two years of continuous service as either Police Officer II or Police Officer III with the City of San Benito, Texas are eligible to take that city's civil service promotional examination for the rank of sergeant.

Opinion No. JC-0341

The Honorable Toby Goodman Chair, Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Whether a Texas State Board of Pharmacy rule specifying that no drugs shall be included on a list of narrow therapeutic index drugs is consistent with section 562.014 of the Texas Occupations Code, which requires the Board, by rule, to "establish a list of narrow therapeutic index drugs" (RQ-0289-JC)

S U M M A R Y

A Texas State Board of Pharmacy rule, 22 T.A.C. § 309.3(d)(2) (2000) (Tex. State Bd. of Pharm., Prescription Drug Orders), which specifies that no drugs shall be included on a list of narrow therapeutic index drugs to which special refill rules should apply, is consistent with section 562.014 of the Texas Pharmacy Act, Tex. Occ. Code Ann. § 562.014 (Vernon 2001).

For further information, please call (512) 463-2110

TRD-200100933

Susan D. Gusky

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: February 14, 2001


Request for Opinions

RQ-0343-JC

The Honorable Jim Solis Chair, Economic Development Committee Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Furnishing of a social security number as a requirement for obtaining a Texas driver's license (Request No. 0343-JC)

Briefs requested by March 14, 2001

RQ-0344-JC

Ms. Victoria J.L. Hsu, P.E. Executive Director Texas Board of Professional Engineers 1917 IH 35 South Austin, Texas 78741

Re: Whether a corporation that is located on a federal enclave is subject to the Texas Engineering Practice Act (Request No. 0344-JC)

Briefs requested by March 14, 2001

RQ-0345-JC

The Honorable Juan J. Hinojosa Chair, Criminal Justice Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Transportation of suspected mentally ill persons on magistrates warrants (Request No. 0345-JC)

Briefs requested by March 14, 2001

For further information, please call 512 463-2110.

TRD-200100934

Susan D. Gusky

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: February 14, 2001