Texas Ethics Commission
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-
9d.1, sec.1.29, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: 
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9b; the Government Code, Chapter 302; the 
Government Code, Chapter 305; the Election Code, Title 15; the Penal Code, 
Chapter 36; and the Penal Code, Chapter 39.
Requests for copies of the full text of opinions or questions on particular 
submissions should be addressed to the Office of the Texas Ethics Commission, 
P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.
Requests
AOR-150. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked about state employees' use 
of state phones for personal phone calls, both local and long-distance. The 
commission has also been asked about the use of fax-machines and cellular 
phones.
AOR-151. The Texas
Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether members of the following 
governmental bodies are required to file financial disclosure statements under 
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9b: the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 
Contractors Advisory Board, the Texas Industrialized Building Code Council, the 
Auctioneer Education Advisory Board, the Board of Boiler Rules, the Elimination 
of Architectural Barriers Advisory Committee, the Property Tax Consultants 
Advisory Council.
AOR-152. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a judge 
may take $500 for speaking at a conference. A letter from the group sponsoring 
the conference states that the organization "does not pay faculty compensation 
to judges for services that the judge would not have been requested to provide 
but for the judge's official position or duties. To the contrary, we pay judges 
and lawyers to participate as faculty because of their experience and knowledge, 
not simply because of their current status as a judge."
AOR-153. A state agency has asked the Texas Ethics Commission whether persons 
regulated by the agency may donate plants and refreshments for an agency 
ceremony.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on January 29, 1993.
TRD-9318471
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: February 2, 1993
For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800