Attorney General

Request for Opinions

RQ-0572-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable M. Rex Emerson

Kerr County Attorney

County Courthouse, Suite BA-103

700 Main Street

Kerrville, Texas 78028

Re: Possible conflict between section 1701.357, Occupations Code, which relates to the carrying of firearms by a retired peace officer, and the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (RQ-0572-GA)

Briefs requested by April 9, 2007

RQ-0573-GA

Requestor:

Mr. C. Tom Clowe, Jr., Chair

Texas Lottery Commission

P.O. Box 16630

Austin, Texas 78761-6630

Re: Eligibility for a manufacturer's or distributor's license under the Bingo Enabling Act, chapter 2001, Occupations Code (RQ-0573-GA)

Briefs requested by April 12, 2007

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

TRD-200701009

Stacey Schiff

Deputy Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: March 14, 2007


Opinions

Opinion No. GA-0528

The Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Chair, Committee on International Relations and Trade

Texas State Senate

Post Office Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Whether a seawall funded from assessments levied pursuant to Local Government Code, chapter 372, subchapter A or B, may be built on privately-owned land (RQ-0528-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Texas Constitution article III, section 52(a) requires a city that builds a seawall on privately- owned land to maintain sufficient control over it to ensure that the public purpose is accomplished and to protect the public's interest in it. To carry out this duty, a city must have an appropriate interest in the land on which a seawall funded from assessments levied pursuant to Local Government Code, chapter 372, subchapter A or B will be located.

Opinion No. GA-0529

The Honorable Jesusa Sanchez-Vera

Jim Wells County Attorney

Post Office Drawer 2080

Alice, Texas 78333

Re: Whether Texas Constitution article III, section 52-a and Local Government Code section 380.001 authorize a city to make a loan to a private developer to fund a private housing project (RQ-0535-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Texas Constitution article III, section 52-a and Local Government Code section 380.001 authorize a city to make a loan for a housing project if the project will promote economic development within the meaning of these provisions.

Opinion No. GA-0530

The Honorable Rodney Ellis

Chair, Committee on Government Organization

Texas State Senate

Post Office Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711-2068

Re: Whether article XVI, section 40(b) of the Texas Constitution applies in certain circumstances (RQ-0530-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Whether a particular state employee is a schoolteacher for purposes of article XVI, section 40 of the Texas Constitution depends upon whether the employee is employed to instruct students in a school setting, which may include an athletic facility, as a result of which participants receive credit toward fulfilling their curriculum requirements.

A home-rule municipality may adopt reasonable ordinances delimiting expenses for which the municipality may reimburse city council members consistently with article XVI, section 40(b)(1). To the extent that reimbursement for various expenses constitutes a gift or grant of public funds for purely private purposes, it would contravene article III, section 52 of the Texas Constitution.

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

TRD-200701008

Stacey Schiff

Deputy Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: March 14, 2007