TITLE attorney-general

Opinions

Opinion No. GA-0080

The Honorable Joe R. Smith

Tyler County Criminal District Attorney

Courthouse Annex

100 West Bluff

Woodville, Texas 75979

Re: Whether, under section 542.007 of the Transportation Code, a county commissioners court may extend state traffic laws to roads in a private subdivision and, if so, whether it may except from the laws thus extended statutes restricting all-terrain vehicle use on public roads (RQ-0008-GA)

S U M M A R Y

In accordance with section 542.007 of the Transportation Code, a county commissioners court may extend all or some of the traffic rules applicable to county roads to roads in a private subdivision. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 542.007(b) (Vernon Supp. 2003). In addition, a commissioners court that has, by order, extended its traffic rules to private subdivision roads may amend a previously issued order to except otherwise applicable restrictions on all-terrain vehicle use.

Opinion No. GA-0081

The Honorable Bruce Isaacks

Denton County Criminal District Attorney

1450 East McKinney, Suite 3100

P.O. Box 2850

Denton, Texas 76202

Re: Budget amendment process in Denton County (RQ-0013-GA)

S U M M A R Y

A commissioners court that amends its budget in midyear to authorize a new position in the sheriff's office by transferring surplus funds from one budget item to another need not authorize an emergency expenditure, but may proceed under the terms of section 111.070(c) of the Local Government Code. Having authorized such an appointment pursuant to sections 151.001 and 151.002 of the Local Government Code, a commissioners court has ceded authority over that position to the appointing officer for the remainder of the budget year in question.

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

TRD-200303489

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: June 11, 2003


Request for Opinions

RQ-0054-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Mike Fetter

Criminal District Attorney, Upshur County

405 North Titus Street

Gilmer, Texas 75644

Re: Whether a county may perform work within the right-of-way of a county road; and whether a county may use its personnel and equipment to pave a private parking lot (Request No. 0054-GA)

Briefs requested by July 2, 2003

RQ-0055-GA

Requestor:

Ms. Betty Jez

Austin County Auditor

One East Main

Bellville, Texas 77418

Re: Whether "records management and preservation" funds may be used to pay the salaries of employees of a county clerk (Request No 0055-GA)

Briefs requested by July 2, 2003

RQ-0056-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Richard J. Miller

Bell County Attorney

P.O. Box 1127

Belton, Texas 76513

Re: Whether a refusal to permit a constable to enter the restricted area of a business in order to serve civil process constitutes an offense under section 38.16, Penal Code; and whether that statute is void for vagueness (Request No. 0056-GA)

Briefs requested by June 30, 2003

RQ-0057-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Florence Shapiro

Chair, Education Committee

Texas State Senate

P.O. Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Whether a minor may be classified as a "missing child" under article 63.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, if the minor's legal guardian knows the minor's whereabouts (Request No. 0057-GA)

Briefs requested by June 30, 2003

RQ-0058-GA

Requestor:

Ms. Kristen Klein, CPA

Guadalupe County Auditor

307 West Court, Suite 205

Seguin, Texas 78155

Re: Whether a person who is assessed a fee under a pretrial intervention program may also be assessed an administrative fee (Request No. 0058-GA)

Briefs requested by July 5, 2003

RQ-0059-GA

Requestor:

Mr. Antonio R. Sandoval

Hidalgo County Auditor

P.O. Box 689

Edinburg, Texas 78540-0689

Re: Obligations of a district attorney with respect to forfeited real property (Request No. 0059-GA)

Briefs requested by July 9, 2003

RQ-0060-GA

Requestor:

Mr. Felipe T. Alanis

Commissioner of Education

Texas Education Agency

1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701-1494

Re: Whether a public school superintendent may reassign a teacher who is related to a school trustee without action by the board; whether an individual whose employment is barred by the nepotism statute may be compensated for services already rendered (Request No. 0060-GA)

Briefs requested by July 9, 2003

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

TRD-200303490

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: June 11, 2003