Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

I E E GICBJE~~AI, OF EXAS Hon. Tommy V. Smith Opinion No. ~-899 Commissioner Bureau of Labor Statistics Re: Authority of Commissioner Capitol Station of Bureau of Labor Stat- Austin, Texas 78711 istics, pursuant to Article 614-17c, Texas Penal Code, to promulgate rules and regulations limiting the number of boxing and wrestling promoters in Texas cities within cer- tain population brackets. Dear Mr. Smith: Your recent letter requesting the opinion of this office concerning the referenced matter states, in part, as follows: "A question has arisen as to whether Article 614-17~ of the Penal Code of the State of Texas authorizes the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to promulgate rules and regulations to limit the number of boxing and wrestling promoters for cities in the State of Texas. Specifically, can the Commissioner establish rules and regulations that will limit cities of certain populations to a maximum number of boxing and wrestling promoters?" Article 614-17c, Texas Penal Code, provides, in part, as follows: "The Commissioner of Labor is hereby empowered and it is hereby made his duty to promulgate any and all reasonable rules and regulations which may be necessary for the purpose of enforcinq the pro- visions of this Law . . ."(Emphasis added.) -4384- I. . Hon. Tommy V. Smith, page 2 (M-899) Articles 614-l through 614-17c, Texas Penal Code, constitute the Boxing and Wrestling law of the State of Texas. With reference to boxing and wrestling promoters, Article 614-4 provides for a scale of graduated registration fees for such promoters, with such fees increasing for cities within certain population brackets wherein the promoter does business. Article 614-S provides for a graduated scale of requisite surety bond amounts for such promoters, once again, depending on the population of the city wherein they do business. Nowhere. however. in the Boxina and Wrestlina* law is there found any provision limiting, or authorizing you to limit, the number of boxing and wrestling promoters for cities within certain population brackets. Article 614-17~ does authorize you to "promulgate any and all reasonable rules and regulations . . . for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Law . . ." If such rules and regulations are consistent with, related to, and in implementation of, any of the provisions of the Boxing and Wrestling Law, such rules and regulations are valid. Kee v. Baber, 157 Tex. 387, 303 S.W.2d 376 (1957): Texas State Board of Examiners in Optometry v. Carp, 412 S.W.2d 307 (Tex.Sup. 19671,. However, Article 614-17~ does not authorize the issuance of rules and regulations which are in excess of, or inconsistent with, the statutory provisions; nor may you impose any additional burdens, conditions, or restrictions which would result in giving such rules and regulations a higher mandate than that of the statute.,..,Kellyv. Industrial Accident Board, 358 S.W.2d 874 (Tex.Civ.App. 1962, error ref.): Bailey v. Texas Indemnity In- surance Co., 14 S.W.2d 790 (Tex.Comm.App. 1929); Attorney General's Opinions No. M-609-A (1970) and No. M-868 (1971); 2 Am.Jur.2d 126, Administrative Law, Sec. 300; and Id. at pp. 129-30, Sec. 301, wherein it is stated that an adminztrative agency cannot create a new license requirement or compel that to be done which lies without the scope of a statute. In view of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that there is no authorization in the Boxing and Wrestling Law for you to promulgate rules and regulations limiting the number of boxing and wrestling promoters in cities of certain population brackets. Your question is, therefore, answered in the negative. -4385- I . Hon. Tommy V. Smith, page 3 (M-899) SUMMARY There is no authorization in the pro- visions of Article 614-17c, Texas Penal Code, for the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to promulgate rules and regulations limiting the number of boxing and wrestling promoters in cities within certain population brackets. truly yours, ney General of Texas Prepared by Austin C. Bray, Jr. Assistant Attorney General APPROVED: OPINION COMMITTEE Kerns Taylor, Chairman W. E. Allen, Co-Chairman Ronald Luna Camm Lary Jerry Roberts Dick Chote MEADE F. GRIFFIN Staff Legal Assistant ALFRED WALKER Executive Assistant NOLA WHITE First Assistant -4386-