TITLE attorney-general

Request for Opinions

RQ-0333-GA

Requestor:

Mr. Thomas Davis, Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

5805 N. Lamar Blvd, Box 4087

Austin, Texas 78773-0001

Re: Whether a peace officer commissioned by the Texas Department of Public Safety is an "appointed officer" for purposes of article XVI, section 1 of the Texas Constitution (Request No. 0333-GA)

Briefs requested by May 11, 2005

RQ-0334-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Dib Waldrip

Comal County Criminal District Attorney

150 N. Seguin, Suite 307

New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Re: Whether a county may assess drainage fees in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality (Request No. 0334-GA)

Briefs requested by May 11, 2005

RQ-0335-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Carlos Uresti

Chair, Government Reform Committee

Texas House of Representatives

Post Office Box 2910

Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Whether a justice of the peace may, under the state law, simultaneously serve as a municipal judge of a city located in the same county (Request No. 0335-GA)

Briefs requested by May 11, 2005

RQ-0336-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Jeff Wentworth

Chair, Jurisprudence Committee

Texas Senate

Post Office Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Whether a municipality that has not enacted a residence homestead exemption under article VIII, section 1-b(h) of the Texas Constitution may adopt the tax limitation of section 1-b(h) (Request No. 0336-GA)

Briefs requested by May 11, 2005

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

TRD-200501621

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: April 19, 2005


Opinions

Opinion No. GA-0316

The Honorable Kent Grusendorf

Chair, House Committee on Public Education

Texas House of Representatives

Post Office Box 2910

Austin, Texas 78768-2910

The Honorable Mike Krusee

Chair, House Committee on Transportation

Texas House of Representatives

Post Office Box 2910

Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Post-hearing procedure in cases involving nonconsent tows (RQ-0278-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Where a nonconsent tow hearing authorized by chapter 685 of the Texas Transportation Code is conducted before a magistrate of a municipal court or municipal court of record, the magistrate's determination is final, and there is no appeal.

Opinion No. GA-0317

The Honorable Bill Hill

Dallas County District Attorney

Administration Building

411 Elm Street, Suite 500

Dallas, Texas 75202-3384

Re: Whether section 6.025(d) of the Tax Code violates article VIII, sections 1(a), (b) and 18(c) of the Texas Constitution (RQ-0285-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Section 6.025(d) of the Tax Code, which requires the chief appraisers of overlapping appraisal districts to enter into their districts' appraisal records the lowest appraised and market values from all the values determined by each appraisal district, does not as a matter of law violate article VIII, section 1(a) or (b) of the Texas Constitution. In a particular fact situation, a court could determine that a property value required by section 6.025(d) fails to appraise the property at its market value and causes a taxing unit to levy a tax that is not equal and uniform.

Section 6.025(d) does not violate the article VIII, section 18(c) requirement that the legislature establish a single review board for each appraisal district and that appraisal review board members reside in the appraisal district.

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

TRD-200501642

Nancy S. Fuller

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: April 20, 2005