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.

Opinions

RQ-954. Request from Mr. James W. Griffin,
 P.E., Executive Director, Texas Turnpike Authority, P.O. Box 190369,
 Dallas, Texas 75219, concerning whether the North Texas Tollway Authority
 is bound by an agreement executed by its predecessor, the Texas Turnpike
 Authority, with the Employees Retirement System.


RQ-955. Request from Ms. Kay Warren, Winkler
 County Auditor, P.O. Drawer O, Kermit, Texas 79745, concerning whether the
 food service contract for a county jail is subject to competitive bidding
and related questions.


RQ-956. Request from The Honorable Fred Hill,
 Chair, Committee on Urban Affairs, Texas House of Representatives, P.O.
 Box 2910, Austin, Texas 78768-2910, concerning retirement coverage for public
 safety dispatcher employed by the City of Denton.


RQ-957. Request from The Honorable Rene O.
 Oliveira, Chair, House Economic Development, Texas House of Representatives,
 P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas 78768-2910, concerning whether the prevailing
 wage law, Government Code, Chapter 2258, applies to work performed by a
 contractor at Midwestern State University.


RQ-958. Request from The Honorable Cindy
 Marie Garner, District Attorney, 349th Judicial District, P.O. Box 1076,
 Crockett, Texas 75835, concerning whether preparation of a "parole packet"
 to assist inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice constitutes
 the unauthorized practice of law.


RQ-959. Request from The Honorable Thomas
 B. Sehon, Falls County District Attorney, P.O. Box 413, Marlin, Texas 76661,
 concerning whether a justice of the peace is required to deposit all funds
 he collects with the county treasurer.


RQ-960. Request from The Honorable Joe F.
 Grubbs, Ellis County and District Attorney, County Courthouse, Waxahachie,
 Texas 75165-3759, concerning authority of a commissioners court to assist
 in funding a branch of a "small business development center".


RQ-961. Request from The Honorable John W.
 Segrest, Criminal District Attorney, McLennan County, 219 North 6th Street,
 Suite 200, Waco, Texas 76701, concerning whether a county judge may delegate
 authority to hear liquor license applications.


RQ-962. Request from The Honorable Barry S.
 Green, District Attorney, 271 Judicial District, Wise County Courthouse,
 Suite 200, Decatur, Texas 76234, concerning proper forum for filing an 
affidavit
 to surrender principal on an individual who has not been indicted.


RQ-963. Request from The Honorable Frank H.
 Bass, Jr., Montgomery County Attorney, Courthouse, Conroe, Texas 77301, 
concerning
 authority of a commissioners court to set salaries for employees of a juvenile
 probation department.


RQ-964. Request from Ms. Matilde Torres, Kleberg
 County Auditor, P.O. Box 72, Kingsville, Texas 78363, concerning authority
 of a commissioners court with regard to a county auditor.


RQ-965. Request from Patti J. Patterson,
 M.D., Commissioner of Health, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th
 Sreet, Austin, Texas 78756-3199, concerning clarification of Letter Opinion
 96-103 (1996) regarding the regulation of kinesiotherapists.


TRD-9711393