ATTORNEY GENERAL
Under provisions set out in the Texas Constitution, the Texas Government Code, 
Title 4,  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.

Letter Opinion

LO-97-066 (RQ-841.) Regarding whether
 the Texas Hazard Communication Act, chapter 502, Health and Safety Code,
 which provides "employees" with accessibility to certain information regarding
 hazardous chemicals at work sites, is applicable to inmates of the Texas
 Department of Criminal Justice.


SUMMARY Prisoners of the Texas Department
 of Criminal Justice are not "employees" for the purposes of the Texas Hazard
 Communication Act, Health and Safety Code chapter 502.


TRD-9709965



Request for Opinions

RQ-947. Request from Mr. Andrew Sansom, Executive
 Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road,
 Austin, Texas 78744, concerning authority of the Franklin County Water District
 to require a permit to operate as a fishing guide on Lake Cypress Springs.

RQ-948. Request from Mr. Andrew Sansom, 
Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School
 Road, Austin, Texas 78744, concerning whether the Texas Water Safety Act,
 chapter 31 of the Parks and Wildlife Code, applies to Lake Cherokee.


RQ-949. Request from the Honorable Barry
 L. Macha, Wichita County Criminal District Attorney, 900 Seventh Street,
 Wichita Falls, Texas 76301-2482, concerning whether state aid to a community
 corrections facility may be used on behalf of an individual confined for
 contempt of court.


RQ-950. Request from the Honorable John Vance,
 Dallas County Criminal District Attorney, 411 Elm Street, Administration
 Building Dallas, Texas 75202, concerning Instruments which a county clerk
 must accept for filing.


RQ-951. Request from Brigadier General Daniel
 James, Adjutant General, Adjutant General's Department, P.O. Box 5218,
 Austin, Texas 78763-5218, concerning whether the Texas National Guard is
 subject to the Hazard Communication Act, chapter 502 of the Health and Safety
 Code.


RQ-952. Request from the Honorable Steven
 D. Wolens, Chair, Committee on State Affairs, Texas House of Representatives,
 P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas 78768-2910, concerning validity of Dallas
 City Council rule that requires request by five council members or majority
 of a city council committee to place items on agenda for council meeting.

TRD-9709966