Attorney General
Description of Attorney General submissions. Under provisions set out in the 
Texas Constitution, the Texas Government Code, Title 4, sec.402.042 and numerous 
statutes, the attorney general is authorized to write advisory opinions for 
state and local officials. These advisory opinions are requested by agencies or 
officials when they are confronted with unique or unusually difficult legal 
questions. The attorney general also determines, under authority of the Texas 
Open Records Act, whether information requested for release from governmental 
agencies maybe held from public disclosure. Requests for opinions, opinions, and 
open record decisions are summarized for publication in the Texas Register. The 
Attorney General responds to many requests for opinions and open records 
decisions with letter opinions. A letter opinion has the same force and effect 
as a formal Attorney General Opinion, and represents the opinion of the Attorney 
General unless and until it is modified or overruled by a subsequent letter 
opinion, a formal Attorney General Opinion, or a decision of a court of record.
Requests for Opinions
(RQ-464). Will be issued as Attorney General Opinion DM-185.
(RQ-465). Request from Honorable Bob Bullock, Lieutenant Governor of Texas, P.O. 
Box 12068, Austin, concerning the authority of the Texas Department of Health to 
enact rules regarding nursing homes.
(RQ-466). Request from Honorable Tom Craddick, Chairman, Committee on Public 
Health, Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, concerning 
whether a municipality's "additional sales and use tax" may be used to finance a 
homestead exemption, and related questions.
(RQ-467). Request from Merril E. Nunn, City Attorney, City of Amarillo, P.O. Box 
1971, Amarillo, concerning whether the identities of juvenile victims of crimes 
or accidents are protected from required public disclosure under the Texas Open 
Records Act, sec.3(a)(1). Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-17a.
(RQ-468). The reconsideration of DM-17. Will be DM-191.
(RQ-469). Request from Honorable Wiley L. Cheatum, District Attorney, 24th 
Judicial District, P.O. Box 587, Cuero, concerning the use of drug forfeiture 
funds.
(RQ-470). Request from Honorable John D. "Jack" Whitlow, Criminal District 
Attorney, Calhoun County, P.O. Box 1001, Port Lavaca, concerning whether motor 
vehicles carrying hazardous materials are subject to regulation if they merely 
cross, rather than travel on, a public highway.
(RQ-471). Request from Honorable James E. Nugent, Commissioner, Railroad 
Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, concerning whether certain motor 
carriers must provide workers compensation and/or accident insurance.
(RQ-472). Request from Honorable Marcos Hernandez, Jr., Criminal District 
Attorney, Hays County Courthouse, Room 208, San Marcos, concerning whether a 
local chamber of commerce, economic development council, and convention and 
visitors bureau are subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Civil 
Statutes, Article 6252-17.