TITLE attorney-general

Opinions

Opinion No. JC-0495. Mr. James R. Hine Commissioner, Texas Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, Texas 78714-9030, regarding whether the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings may order the Texas Department of Human Services to pay a licensee's attorney's fees after the SOAH dismissed an administrative action brought to revoke a license (RQ-0463-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

The Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings has no authority to order the Texas Department of Human Services to pay a licensee's attorney's fees after an administrative action brought to revoke the license. The state has not waived its sovereign immunity against attorney's fees imposed in an administrative proceeding administered by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

Opinion No. JC-0496. The Honorable Jose R. Rodriguez, El Paso County Attorney, 500 East San Antonio, Room 203 El Paso, Texas 79901, regarding method of selection of the justice of the peace member of the El Paso County Bail Bond Board (RQ-0465-JC).

S U M M A R Y.

The justice of the peace member of the El Paso County Bail Bond Board should be selected from among and by the eligible justices of the peace of the county by any reasonable method. Members of the board who are members by virtue of their elective offices serve on the board for the duration of their elective offices. Members appointed or selected by others serve at the pleasure of the appointing or selecting authority. As a general matter, neither a commissioners court nor the bail bond board itself may remove members for failure to regularly attend meetings of the board.

Opinion No. JC-0497. The Honorable Charles A. Rosenthal, Jr., Harris County District Attorney, 1201 Franklin Street, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77002, regarding whether a peace officer is required to attend continuing education courses regarding enforcement of traffic laws and the use of radar equipment (RQ-0471-JC).

S U M M A R Y .

A peace officer is not currently required by section 644.101(d) of the Transportation Code to attend continuing education courses regarding enforcement of traffic and highway laws and the use of radar equipment.

For further information, please call the Opinion Committee at (512) 463-2110 or access the website at www.oag.state.tx.us.

TRD-200202702

Susan D. Gusky

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: May 1, 2002