Attorney General

Request for Opinions

RQ-0776-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable Warren Chisum

Chair, Committee on Appropriations

Texas House of Representatives

P.O. Box 2910

Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Whether the phrase "cut of a county road" as used in section 240.907 of the Local Government Code applies to an activity that bores under the road (RQ-0776-GA)

Briefs requested by February 23, 2009

RQ-0777-GA

Requestor:

The Honorable David P. Weeks

Walker County Criminal District Attorney

1036 11th Street

Huntsville, Texas 77340

Re: Whether certain reservations and assignments in deeds transferred by a member of a city council exclude particular property from tax increment financing under section 312.204(d) of the Tax Code (RQ-0777-GA)

Briefs requested by February 23, 2009

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

TRD-200900315

Stacey Napier

Deputy Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: January 27, 2009


Opinions

Opinion No. GA-0692

Mr. Adan Munoz, Jr.

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Post Office Box 12985

Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Observation of county jail inmates while they are confined in courthouse holding cells (RQ-0722-GA)

S U M M A R Y

As the agency charged with adopting reasonable rules and procedures establishing minimum standards for the custody, care and treatment of prisoners, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards must determine, in the first instance, whether bailiffs have the authority to supervise inmates being held in courthouse holding cells.

Opinion No. GA-0693

The Honorable Robert F. Vititow

Rains County Attorney

220 West Quitman

Post Office Box 1075

Emory, Texas 75440

Re: Authority of a commissioners court to remove from county right-of-way structures it deems to be a safety hazard (RQ-0729-GA)

S U M M A R Y

Pursuant to its general control over all roads, highways, and bridges in the county, as provided for in section 251.016 of the Transportation Code, a commissioners court may remove or order the removal of objects in the county road right-of-way that create a safety hazard to the public. Whether the mailboxes at issue are hazardous to the public, and can therefore be removed by the commissioners court, is a fact question not appropriate for the opinion process.

Generally, when a road is established by prescription or dedication, the right is not limited to the area traveled, but includes sufficient land, where reasonably available, for drainage ditches, repairs, and the convenience of the traveling public. However, whether and to what extent a public right-of-way has been acquired by dedication or prescription is a question of fact that cannot be decided through the opinion process.

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

TRD-200900314

Stacey Napier

Deputy Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: January 27, 2009