TITLE attorney-general

Opinions

Opinion No. JC-0259.

The Honorable Jeri Yenne, Brazoria County, Criminal District Attorney, 111 East Locust, Suite 408A, Angleton, Texas 77515

Regarding whether a recent amendment to article 42.01, §2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure precludes a court clerk from preparing a judgment (RQ-0198-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

Article 42.01, §2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure does not preclude a court clerk from preparing a judgment. However, a court clerk may prepare a judgment only under the supervision of an attorney. It is for the judge ordering a court clerk to prepare a judgment to determine which attorney will supervise the clerk and what that supervision will entail.

Opinion No. JC-0260.

The Honorable Glen Wilson, Parker County, Attorney, One Courthouse Square, Weatherford, Texas 76086

Regarding whether §232.0015(a) of the Local Government Code permits a county to except "specific divisions of land" from the subdivision-plat requirement in §232.001, and related questions (RQ-0200-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

Section 232.0015(a) of the Local Government Code authorizes a county to "define and classify divisions" to except from the platting requirement particular subdivisions that would otherwise be subject to the requirement, even though the exception is not one listed in §232.0015(b) through (k). See Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. §232.0015 (Vernon Supp. 2000). A division of real property that is required to be platted under §232.001 and §232.0015 must be platted "regardless of whether [the division] is made by using a metes and bounds description in a deed of conveyance or in a contract for a deed, by using a contract of sale or other executory contract to convey, or by using any other method." Id. §232.001(a-1).

Section 232.009 of the Local Government Code, "Revision of Plat," applies to real property located outside the corporate limits of any municipality, but not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality with a population of 1.5 million or more. See id. §232.009. With respect to a proposed revision of a plat of a subdivision that is subject to §232.009, a commissioners court must notify, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, each owner of "all or part" of the subdivided tract. See id. The boundaries of a particular subdivision will be set forth in the recorded plat.

Opinion No. JC-0261.

William R. Archer III, M.D., Commissioner of Health, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199

Regarding whether the salary cap established by §659.0115 of the Government Code applies to a retired state employee who is reemployed by a state agency to perform the same services he performed for the agency for the last six months prior to his retirement, and related questions (RQ-0203-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

A retired state employee who is reemployed by a state agency is subject to the salary cap set forth in §659.0115 of the Government Code if he or she is rehired to perform services substantially similar to those he or she performed for less than the entire twelve month period before retirement. Section 659.0115 does not cap the salary of a reemployed retiree who performs "substantially similar" services for less than six months and then transfers to a position that does not involve "substantially similar" services before the end of the first six months of reemployment.

Opinion No. JC-0262.

The Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Human Services Committee, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711-2068

Regarding whether an area of northeastern Bexar County may be disannexed from the Alamo Community College District (RQ 0202-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

Because the disannexation of part of a junior college district requires specific statutory authorization, see Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. No. DM-297 (1994) at 1, and because none of the statutes authorizing disannexation would appear to apply to a proposed disannexation of a part of northeastern Bexar County from the Alamo Community College District, in all reasonable probability no such disannexation is legally permissible.

For further information, please call (512) 463-2110

TRD-200005384

Susan D. Gusky

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: August 2, 2000


Request for Opinions

RQ-0256-JC.

The Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair, Committee on Criminal Justice, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711-2068

Regarding whether a municipal employee retirement fund constitutes a "fire fighter or police officer's pension fund" under §143.073, Local Government Code, for purposes of compensating a firefighter a police officer absent for an injury or illness related to his line of duty (Request No. 0256-JC).

Briefs requested by August 20, 2000.

RQ-0257-JC.

Mr. Jim Muse, Executive Director, General Services Commission, 1711 San Jacinto Street, Austin, Texas 78711-3047

Regarding whether "reverse auctions" constitute a permissible method of conducting competitive bidding by state agencies (Request No. 0257-JC).

Briefs requested by August 20, 2000.

RQ-0258-JC.

The Honorable Tim Curry, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney, Justice Center, 401 West Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas 76196-0201.

Regarding whether a person who pleads guilty to a lesser included offense is entitled to an expunction of his arrest record (Request No. 0258-JC).

RQ-0259-JC.

The Honorable Robert L. Busselman, Karnes County Attorney, 101 North Panna Maria, Suite 10 Karnes City, Texas 78118

Regarding whether a medical clinic owned by the Karnes County Hospital District and leased to private physicians is exempt from ad valorem taxation (Request No. 0259-JC).

Briefs requested by August 28, 2000.

RQ-0260-JC.

The Honorable Ed C. Jones, Angelina County Attorney, P. O. Box 1845, Lufkin, Texas 75902-1845

Regarding constitutionality of §11.161, Tax Code, which exempts from ad valorem taxation "implements of husbandry used in the production of timber" (Request No. 0260-JC).

Briefs requested by August 28, 2000.

TRD-200005368

Susan D. Gusky

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: August 2, 2000