TITLE attorney-general

Opinion

Opinion No. GA-0089

The Honorable Tim Curry

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney

Justice Center

401 West Belknap

Fort Worth, Texas 76196-0201

Re: Whether Occupations Code, §1704.304, providing that certain persons may not recommend a bail bond surety, an attorney, or a law firm to a criminal defendant, precludes those persons from furnishing a list of attorneys or bail bond sureties. (RQ-0022-GA)

SUMMARY

The statute regulating bail bond sureties prohibits (1) a bail bond surety from recommending an attorney or law firm to the surety's client, and (2) various public officers and employees of the jail and court systems from recommending a particular bail bond surety to another person. These provisions prohibit the affected persons from making any recommendations of attorneys, law firms or bail bond sureties.

For further information, please access the website at www.oag.state.tx.us. or call the Opinion Committee at (512) 463-2110.

TRD-200304633

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: July 30, 2003


Request for Opinions

RQ-0078-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Sylvester Turner

Speaker Pro Tempore

Texas House of Representatives

P.O. Box 2910

Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Clarification of Attorney General Opinion GA-0040 (2003) relating to Department of Insurance enforcement of provisions of the Health Maintenance Organization Act against physicians who are not under contract to a health maintenance organization. (Request No. 0078-GA)

Briefs requested by August 24, 2003

RQ-0079-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Mike Stafford

Harris County Attorney

1019 Congress, 15th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002-1700

Re: Whether, if Harris County opts to increase the salaries of its district judges, the Comptroller would be required to reduce the state's contribution to those salaries. (Request No. 0079-GA)

Briefs requested by August 25, 2003

RQ-0080-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte, R.Ph.

Chair, Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee

Texas State Senate

P.O. Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Whether a particular promotion by a used automobile dealer implicates chapter 40 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. (Request No. 0080-GA)

Briefs requested by August 25, 2003

RQ-0081-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Ben W. "Bud" Childers

Fort Bend County Attorney

301 Jackson Street, Suite 728

Richmond, Texas 77469-3108

Re: Whether a tax abatement granted under the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act, chapter 312, Tax Code, may be applied retroactively. (Request No. 0081-GA)

Briefs requested by August 25, 2003

For further information, please access the website at www.oag.state.tx.us. or call the Opinion Committee at (512) 463-2110.

TRD-200304624

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: July 29, 2003