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.

Open Records Request

ORQ-27(ID#114181). Request from the Honorable
 John Sharp, Comptroller of Public Accounts, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas
 78774, concerning whether sec.552.101 or sec.552.110 of the Government
 Code excepts from disclosure information required to be filed with the 
Comptroller
 by entities subject to certain fees under section 161.123(a) of the Health
 and Safety Code for placing outdoor advertisements for cigarettes and tobacco
 products.


TRD-9803071


Request for Opinions

RQ-1081. Request from William R. Archer III,
 M.D., Commissioner of Health, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th
 Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199, concerning whether sec.673.002, Health
 and Safety Code, which requires the Commissioner of Health to review and
 authorize payment of claims for autopsies performed on children under the
 age of two years, has been superseded.


RQ-1082. Request from the Honorable Gonzalo
 Barrientos, Chair, Committee of the Whole on Legislative and Congressional
 Redistricting Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas
 78711-2068, concerning whether the Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council
is
 an "advisory committee" under Chapter 2110, Government Code.


RQ-1083. Request from the Honorable Eddie
 Lucio, Jr., Chair, Intergovernmental Relations, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box
 12068, Austin, Texas 78711-2068, concerning whether a county judge may practice
 law in the courts of his county.


RQ-1084. Request from the Honorable Eddie
 Lucio, Jr., Chair, Intergovernmental Relations, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box
 12068, Austin, Texas 78711-2068, concerning whether the mayor or the city
 manager of the City of Brownsville may remove municipal housing authority
 commissioners.


RQ-1085. Request from Mike Moses, Commissioner
 of Education, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin,
 Texas 78701-1494, concerning whether an independent school district may 
purchase
 buses from another school district.


RQ-1086. Request from Ron Allen, Executive
 Director, Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 333 Guadalupe,
 Suite 2-330, Austin, Texas 78701-3998, concerning whether certain business
 arrangements constitute the practice of veterinary medicine.


RQ-1087. Request from William R. Archer
 III, M.D., Commissioner of Health, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th
 Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199, concerning whether certain persons who 
dispense
 contact lenses are exempt from the permitting requirements of Texas Civil
 Statutes, Article 4552-A, the Texas Contact Lense Prescription Act.


RQ-1088. Request from Sid L. Harle, Chairman,
 Court Reporters Certification Board, P.O. Box 13131, Austin, Texas 78711-3131,
 concerning requirements of a verified complaint filed with the Court Reporters
 Certification Board.


RQ-1089. Request from the Honorable Tom O'Connell,
 Criminal District Attorney, 210 South McDonald, Suite 324, McKinney, Texas
 75069, concerning whether the City of Plano may provide a retirement plan
 for its appointive officers and employees.


RQ-1090. Request from John R. Speed, P.E.,
 Executive Director, Texas Board of Professional Engineers, P.O. Drawer 18329,
 Austin, Texas 78760-8329, concerning whether the Texas Natural Resource 
Conservation
 Commission may license site evaluations, and related questions.


RQ-1091. Request from Mike Moses, Commissioner
 of Education, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin,
 Texas 78701-1494, concerning Liability of an independent school district
 for taxes collected in excess of a maximum maintenance tax rate adopted by
voters.


TRD-9803159