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.

Request for Opinions

RQ-1111. Request from Mr. Leonard Rauch,
 Chairman, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 12788, Austin,
 Texas 78711, concerning authority of Texas A&M University to contract
 with South Texas College of Law to operate the "Texas A&M University
 Law Center".


RQ-1112. Request from the Honorable Rodney
 Ellis, Chairman, Jurisprudence Committee, Texas Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin,
 Texas 78711-2068, concerning clarification of Attorney General Opinion DM-464
 (1998): Time Payment Fee under sec.51.921, Government Code.


RQ-1113. Request from the Honorable Florence
 Shapiro, Chair, Interim Committee for Sex Offenders, Texas State Senate,
 P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711, concerning Registration of sex offenders.

RQ-1114. Request from the Honorable Ben
 W. "Bud" Childers, Fort Bend County Attorney, 301 Jackson, Suite 621 Richmond,
 Texas 77469-3108, concerning whether the City of Rosenberg may use certain
 bond proceeds for the construction of a new civic center - convention center.

RQ-1115. Request from the Honorable Ron
 Lewis, Chair, County Affairs Committee, Texas House of Representatives, P.O.
 Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910, concerning construction of sec.814.1041,
 Government Code, which provides for a "temporary service retirement option"
 for state employees.


RQ-1116. Request from Mr. Robert E. Bell,
 Jackson County District Attorney Courthouse, 115 West Main Street, Room 205
 Edna, Texas 77957, concerning whether the Jackson County county-wide Drainage
 District has sole responsibility for drainage and similar matters within
 the City of Edna.


RQ-1117. Request from Mr. Dudley M. Thomas,
 Director, Texas Department of Public Safety, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, Texas
 78773-0001, concerning construction of Senate Bill 370, Acts 1997, 75th 
Legislative,
 Chapter 1171, relating to the regulation of certain motor vehicles, truck
 tractors, road tractors, and tow trucks.


RQ-1118. Request from Mr. Sid L. Harle,
 Chair, Texas Court Reporters Certification Board, P.O. Box 13131, Austin,
 Texas 78711-3131, concerning whether the Court Reporters Certification Board
 has approval authority over registration of court reporting firms.


TRD-9805276