ATTORNEY GENERAL
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 may be 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. To request copies of 
opinions, phone (512) 462-0011. To inquire about pending requests for opinions, 
phone (512) 463-2110.

Requests for Opinions
ID# 38638. Request from the Honorable Ron Lewis, Chair, Committee on County 
Affairs, Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas 78768-
2910, concerning whether a school board member who resigns but "returns" prior 
to replacement is still a member of the board.
ID# 38643. Request from the Honorable Doyle Willis, Chair, Military and Veterans 
Affairs Committee, Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas 
78768-2910, concerning whether the Bexar County Commissioners Court may house 
its veterans service officer with its Department of Housing and Human Services.
ID# 38644. Request from Mr. Jack Garison, Executive Director, Texas Department 
of Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711, concerning 
whether the administrative penalty authority granted to the Department of 
Licensing and Regulation under Labor Code, sec.91.021, resides in the commission 
or the commissioner.
ID# 38659. Request from the Honorable Michael G. Mask, Jack County Attorney, 
County Courthouse, Third Floor, Jacksboro, Texas 76458, concerning selection of 
public member of a county officers salary grievance committee.
ID# 38660. Request from the Honorable Jeb McNew, Montague County Attorney, P.O. 
Box 336, Montague, Texas 76251-0336, concerning use of county jail inmates to 
cut trees on private land in exchange for payment to the county of the proceeds 
from sale of the wood.
ID# 38679. Request from the Honorable Mark H. Dettman, Midland County Attorney, 
P.O. Box 2559, Midland, Texas 79702, concerning whether the county attorney or 
the district attorney is authorized or required to represent Midland County in 
civil actions.
TRD-9606094