The Attorney General of Texas
August 6, 1984
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General
Supreme Court Building Honorable Charles Evans Opinion No. JM-185
P. 0. Box 12546 Chairman
Aus!in, TX. 76711.2546 Conrmltteeon House 4dministration Re: Whether a committee of the
512/475-2501
P. 0. Box 2910 House of Representatives may
Telex 9101674.1367
Telecopier 5121475.0266
Austin, Texas 78759 accept donations from private
organizations
714 Jackson. Suite 7M1 Dear Representative Evans:
Dallas. TX. 75202-4506
2141742.6944
You have askwl whether "a Rouse Committee can accept donations
from private organizations." We conclude that a committee of the
4024 Alberta Ave., Suite 160 Texas House of Representatives is not authorized to accept donations
El Paso, TX. 79905.2793 from private organizations.
9151533.3464
Section 19 of article V of the General Appropriations Act, Acts
r
31 Texas. Suite 700
1983, 68th Leg., ch. 1095, at 6016, explicitly appropriates "All
Houston, TX. 77002-3111 bequests and gifts of money to state agencies named in this
7131223-5666 Act . . . ." Howerar,
that provision does not itself authorize agencies
608 Broadway, Suite 312
Lubbock. TX. 79401.3479
to accep:: gifts; it merely appropriates those
606/747-5238 gifts accepted by agencies already authorized by
general law to accept them. General legislation
is requ:i::ed. Attorney General Opinions R-2680
4309 N. Tenth. Suite B
McAflen, TX. 76501-1665
(1951); ~I.-4681
(1942).
512/662-4547
. . . ,
200 Main Plaza, Suite 400
Legislatbre authorization for the acceptance of
San Antonio, TX. 76205.2797
512/2254191
gifts is necessary . . . . -See 81A C.J.S. States
6145 at 530.
An Equal Opportunity/ Attorney General Opinion H-1180 (1978). Neither in the Legislative
Affirmative Action Employer Reorganization Act of 1961, as amended, article 5429f. V.T.C.S., nor
elsewhere has the legislature seen fit to provide that it or a
committee thereof, article 54298, V.T.C.S.. may accept donations, as
it has for the Conmdssion for the Deaf [V.T.C.S. art. 4413(43)], and
the Governor's Cwnmission on Physical Fitness [V.T.C.S. art.
4413(44)1. *. for example, V.T.C.S. art. 46c-6 (Aeronautics
Commission); V.T.C.S. art. 3207a (Commission for the Blind); V.T.C.S.
art. 4477-30 (Henophilia Assistance Program); V.T.C.S. art. 4590f
p. 810
Honorable Charles Evans - Pa$;e2 (~~-185)
(State Radiation Control AgeIcy); Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.121 (Adult
Probation Commission). Cf. 68th Leg. Senate Bill No. 772 and House
Bill No. 622 (1983). -'
Since we have found that a legislative committee is not
authorized to accept donatjons it is unnecessary to examine other
possible objections to the receipt and expenditure of such donations.
See, e.g., V.T.C.S. art. 62.j:!-9b;
Penal Code 5636.08 and 36.09.
SUMMARY
A House Committ,‘.e
may not accept donations from
private 0rganiaatLJns
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General of Texas
TOM GREEN
First Assistant Attorney General
DAVID R. RICHARDS
Executive Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Colin J. Carl
Assistant Attorney General
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE
Rick Gilpin, Chairman
David Brooks
Colin Carl
Susan Garrison
Jim Moellinger
Nancy Sutton
p. 811