TITLE attorney-general

Opinions

Opinion #JC-0027. (RQ-1115). Request from the Honorable Ron Lewis, Chair, Energy Resources Committee, Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas, 78768-2910, regarding Construction of section 814.1041 of the Government Code, which provides for a "temporary service retirement option" for certain state employees.

Summary. Section 814.1041 of the Government Code provides a temporary service retirement option under the Employees Retirement System of Texas for employees of certain state agencies whose positions are eliminated because of privatization or other reductions in workforce. Section 814.1041(b) provides that an employee is eligible to retire and receive a service retirement annuity if the member's age and service credit, each increased by three years, would meet the requirements of section 814.104(a) of the Government Code, the general provision for retirement. Section 814.1041(b) applies only to an employee who is not eligible to retire under section 814.104(a) of the Government Code when his or her position is eliminated. The service annuity of a person who retires under section 814.1041(b) is computed on the person's accrued service credit increased by three years. The ERS rule providing that a member of the affected employee class who is not eligible to retire without the age and service supplement will receive only the minimum service credit necessary to meet eligibility is inconsistent with the statute and is therefore invalid.

Opinion #JC-0028. (RQ-1192). Request from the Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr. Chair, Special Committee on Border Affairs, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas, 78711-2068, regarding authority of the city council of a general-law city to dismiss council meetings for three successive months.

Summary. No statute in chapter 22 of the Local Government Code requires the city council of a Type A city to meet every month or otherwise establishes a meeting schedule, nor does any provision of chapter 23 of the Local Government Code establish a meeting schedule for the city council of a Type B city.

Opinion #JC-0029. (RQ-1168). Request from the Honorable Mark Piland Mitchell, County Attorney, 349 Oak Street, Room 206, Colorado City, Texas, 79512, regarding whether the constitutional residency requirement applies to a deputy county clerk.

Summary. A deputy county clerk is an employee, not an officer, and therefore is not subject to the residency requirement of article XVI, section 14 of the Texas Constitution.

Opinion #JC-0030. (RQ-1217). Request from Robert A. Swerdlow, Ph.D., Chairman, Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities, P.O. Box 13047, Austin, Texas, 78711-3047, regarding Financial reporting requirements applicable to Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities under section 122.022 of the Human Resources Code.

Summary. The Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities must account on an annual basis for all funds received and disbursed, from whatever source derived.

TRD-9902078

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: April 7, 1999


Requests for Opinions

RQ-0046. Request from the Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, State Affairs Committee, Texas State Senate, E1.610, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas, 78711-2068, regarding authority of a law enforcement agency to register a parolee who is not required by statute to register as a sex offender, and related questions. (Request No. 0046-JC)

RQ-0047. Request from the Honorable Irma Rangel, Texas House of Representatives , P.O. Box 2910, EN.6, Austin, Texas, 78768-2910, regarding whether a junior college may give funds to a charitable and educational nonprofit corporation. (Request No. 0047-JC)

RQ-0048. Request from the Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr. Chair, Committee on Border Affairs Texas State Senate P.O. Box 12068, GE.4 Austin, Texas 78711, regarding whether Texas may implement a Grant Application Revenue Vehicle program in the absence of a constitutional amendment. (Request No. 0048-JC)

RQ-0049. Request from the Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Committee on Human Services, Texas State Senate, 1E.5, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711, regarding whether the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services may rescind a non-expiring waiver to operate a child care facility. (Request No. 0049-JC)

RQ-0050. Request from the Honorable Homero Ramirez, Webb County Attorney, P.O. Box 420268, Laredo, Texas 78042-0268, regarding effective date of salary increases for county employees. (Request No. 0050-JC)

RQ-0051. Request from the Honorable Riley J. Simpson, 52nd Judicial District, Attorney, P.O. Box 919, Gatesville, Texas, 76528-0919, regarding whether proceeds from general obligation bonds may be used to fund legal fees for arbitration of construction contracts. (Request No. 0051-JC)

TRD-9902077

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: April 7, 1999