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.

Request for Opinions

RQ-966. Request from the Honorable Antonio
 O. Garza, Jr. Secretary of State, State of Texas, P.O. Box 12697 Austin,
 Texas 78711-2697, regarading whether a corporation that intends to operate
 on a "cooperative basis," as defined in the Cooperative Association Act,
 Tex. Civ. Stat. article 1326- 50.01, may incorporate under the Texas Non-Profit
 Act, Tex. Civ. Stat. articles 1396.1.01-1396.11.01.


RQ-967. Request from the Honorable John Sharp,
 Comptroller of Public Accounts, State of Texas, L.B.J. State Office Building,
 Austin, Texas 78744, regarding Administration of the Marihuana and Controlled
 Substances Tax, Tax Code, Chapter 159.


RQ-968. Request from the Honorable Richard
 J. Miller, Bell County Attorney, P.O. Box 1127, Belton, Texas 76513, regarding
 authority of a sheriff with regard to the approval of bail bonds.


RQ-969. Request from the Honorable Ramie
 Kana, County Auditor, Colorado County Courthouse, Third Floor, Columbus,
 Texas 78934, regarding whether a commissioners court may contract with its
 county attorney to provide courthouse security.


RQ-970. Request from the Honorable James
 M. Kuboviak, Brazos County Attorney, 300 East 26th Street, Suite #325, Bryan,
 Texas 77803, regarding effective date of penalty provided by the Tax Code,
 sec.33.07.


RQ-971. Request from the Honorable James
 M. Kuboviak, Brazos County Attorney, 300 East 26th Street, Suite 325, Bryan,
 Texas 77803, regarding approval of tax collection contracts and related 
questions.

RQ-972. Request from the Honorable Tom Haywood,
 Chair, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin,
 Texas 78711, regarding Constitutionality of Senate Bill 149, Acts 1997, 75th
 Leg., ch. 1017, which relates to performance evaluations of tenured faculty
 members.


RQ-973. Request from the Honorable Kim Brimer,
 Chair, Business and Industry, Texas House of Representatives, P.O. Box 2910,
 Austin, Texas 78768-2910, regarding Parking for disabled persons at airports.

RQ-974. Request from the Honorable Frank
 Madla, Chair, Committee on Nominations, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068,
 Austin, Texas 78711, regarding whether the Town of Barstow is included within
 Ward County Water Irrigation District Number 1.


TRD-9712287


ID# 39692. Request from Mr. Carl Reynolds,
 General Counsel, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, P.O. Box 13084, Austin,
 Texas 78711, regarding whether a client of a member of the board of directors
 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may contract with the Department

TRD-9712295