ETHICS COMMISSION
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Government Code, sec.571.091, to 
issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: the Government 
Code, Chapter 302; the Government Code, Chapter 305; the Government Code, 
Chapter 572; 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.
Texas Ethics Commission
Opinions
AOR-217. A member of the legislature has asked the Ethics commission whether he 
may use state resources to perform "routine [legislative] duties" for 
constituents in an area that will become part of his district in 1995. 
Specifically, the legislator asks about constituent casework, meetings with 
members of a community in regard to a project that requires a state permit, and 
traveling to the area to "discuss concerns which may require legislative 
solutions."
AOR-218. The Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a member of 
the legislature who has "a controlling interest or substantial interest in a 
broker-dealer" is prohibited from representing the broker-dealer before a state 
agency or whether the broker-deal itself is prohibited from appearing before a 
state agency. If so,
the legislator asks, does
the restriction apply if
the legislator is not
compensated.
AOR-219. A local elected official has made certain expenditures from personal 
funds. He has asked the Ethics Commission to consider whether he may reimburse 
his personal funds from political contributions. The specific expenditure are 
for membership in the Freedom of Information Foundation, a donation to a school 
fund raiser; charity lunches, an employee lunch, and an office Christmas tree.
AOR-220. The Ethics Commission has been asked about the use of a car purchased 
with political contributions for state business. The officeholder using the car 
would be reimbursed by the state for use of the car on state business. The 
question is whether the officeholder could use the state reimbursement to 
reimburse his political funds for the use of the car for state business.
AOR-221. A person the position of district attorney after the elected district 
attorney has asked about the terms he may use to describe himself in campaign 
literature. Specially, the questions are whether he may use the phrase District 
Attorney" or the phrase "I am [Name of Attorney."
AOR-222. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a former 
supervisor of hearings examiner for a state agency may represent parities before 
the state agency.
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by sec.1.29 of Subchapter D of Chapter 
571 of the Government Code, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the 
following statutes: (1) Subchapter D of Chapter 572 of the Government Code; (2) 
Chapter 302, Government Code; (1) Chapter 305, Government Code; (3) Title 15, 
Election Code; (5) Chapter 36, Penal Code; and (6) Chapter 39, Penal Code. 
Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics 
Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on February 7, 1994.
TRD-9435944
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: February 9, 1994