QBffictof fly !?lttorntp6eneral
Obtatt of &txas
w 3.1993
HonorableWiky L. Cbathun OpinionNo. Dh4.247
DisbictAttonley
24th JudicialDisttict Re: wbetber tk provi8iotls of 8rticle
P.O. Box 587 59.06(c) oft& &de ofcrimid procsdw,
W,TW n954 tlir8u@umc8rt8in~pmpatyk
clepcddio8’~~bltbeunmty
Youlrquutfof8nopitliorl-lh8pocsdurrryoa~usesto
8dministeffutldr-to”tbemomy~tbeft8tempunualttoMide
59.06(c)(1) of the code of climhd Prucedm =d**WecamplY
dtbthatmbsection. 7laefimdsinquestion~pnqmyurpnxadsofppopatyfbrfeited
rsmlmbuldundachrptars9oftllecotlcof-Plocsdurr. fiLhdoo(c)(l)of
8rticie 59.06 pmides 8s fonows:
p. 1273
Wedmlitrbudgetibrhrfeitedibtldstothecommissiotters
coutt(0fachcounty)bef~acpmdiaucofthoaefundrwhicb
were folfeitedio that putioulrr county. . . T-ha&auf rpecirl fimds
8r88udited8nmunybytbeconnniuioaatcantinombofoortbree
cowtier. . . . Aftathemmulaudit$wewndacai6edcopyofthe
amualuldittotbeattmeygawntutdgovcrnor...withitl30&yr
aotbeyatlfidtorblsgectourclrpeadiamrtoitlsuretb8ttbe&adr
waeguopedyued.
u8dertbisprtxedmthedisbictwtotaeywriu,ttl8cbedtstbr
hisoflicemdtbesberiffdoMliLcwivitl~tobisuseoffblxls
fewivcdbybimtJodertheklc8l~ 8ttdtbaeerrpaditurcs
8rert?&ueditltbemlw8l8udit8tldtbadbrralbjecttoquesti~but
P8luertimewbetltheitlfonllatiotlisnotlikdyto-witb8o
invatig8tio8apPorautiona~ermi8f~aundacova
of6cer. .
lnyourktte?yollcomp8retbiss)wanwitbm-iowbicb
tbedimict8tt~suuirhaifFlIpeci8lfundcmkeptwitbtbe
cowtytmrumwd-bytbe-mdruditaurda
tbedbwtioooftbe8ttorwytwtbest8te.... u8dertbisptuadm
wllaoitlusbeonpropoctdtb8t~cuJtltybetbedepoaitocyfbrtbe
the(3)cxamtkeuayrbecLwouldbeinuedraddgnsdbythe
hditOrrad8lSorrJaedbytkT- 8DdDiSUiCtAttMWy(Or
S&riff,MtbGCMCMybC).
Youstuetlutrhepmbkmwiththisakmtiveydsmisthurtkut~paxmswould
beimdvediBtkimltmce of88cbcbe&8oitwouIdkimpoodblctoprevalt
expaam~bewmiogcwlmon hrowledee8llnost~. xf&epojmalts
wwep8rtofmu8d- opedotLtbe~t8fguslmdertbe-rynrm
would&ttmiikelyto6adoutdmuttbeopmtionptmwudy,witbtbepordbkrestdtr
ofruinediavatigrtionrald~ws8odimpcrilmanofLwQf- rIFntrd
-.
p. 1274
HonorableWdey L. Cheahm - Page 3 (DM-247)
nonorlo1e wuey L. uleuMm - r-e 4 ux~-247)
Although aeuions 113.041 dlrougb 113.043 and 113.064 emarlty Kqlife the
camtytramcrtollukc-outofthecacmtytrauuryby~
nfnnuncnudnwnbyproper8tltbrblndroquiretbealwtyalditortolpprovetboae
~S8dtOcoWthg0cbedcrmdwurtmr,mueoftkeopkiontbat~de
59.06oftbecodeofcrimidPrwodweb~k~thoreprwkiow.
SuMow (d) and (e) ofwide 59.06 providein put:
. . . .
p. 1276
HonorableWheyL. Cbmtbun - Pqe 5 (DH-247)
Tbcphinhqpgeofarbrsction(d)apre&grmtsqeadingrutbositytothe
lomll4we&memea~eacyorrttorny~thertlte. Theonlycondition
praAmttotbeaercise
Prw. art. 59.06(d); homey Chml OpinionDM-246 (1993) rt S-6. Sheetion (d)
tbUdOfCdOCSWtmaelygWltrpcadiaeUUlht7d~tOthcllWUlf- rgency~~
attomeyrqraahgtbearte;kdm~lpadins~m. TheabeUion
evidNcetbe~iotNttbBttbwegenmnykao~-ond”mricwoftbe
8pdillg~OIlSOftbC~CKhW~i ageacy,dlltir,rhattbefokno
interf-WitlIthe-aerdadbytbeloa!kw- w=Yc+r*
repmdngtbemmeinrpading~fwds.~ RudinwnjwctionwiU~
%=on(d) ahmion(g)‘rexprcsspmvisionformMauladitbythetommiuioners
cowtormuni~ &pvaniqbodyN~eststbmNchNditisadNiveofanym~-ad”
rokwNtborkyoftbealunlyNditor.
Al!ides9.06i8nmsped6cmldlvManaedmonnxuuiyrbulKctioas
113.041,113.C?42.113.043. and 113.064 oftbe- Govammt cuk. see Aas 1987,
70th Leg., ch. 149. $1 (auetment of Local cwt code); are olw Acts 1989,flsf Leg.,
1st C.S.. dl. 12. Q 1 (mrament of dllpter 59 of the code ofclimiml proctdurr). ‘[A]
genemlprovbionmstyieldtorrpeciJcmeao5ruaecemytogiveeffeutotbt
partiah subject oftbe htter.’ t@ o/r(sfdn v. CMiU, 88 SW. 542.546 (Ta. 1905).
“:-II’:? :>c provkiow amlot be turmow we colhde that tide 59.06 is m
accptioa to section 113.04l’r fquimmt that dihmamm be made by the county
masurer,aeuion113.04~r~uutrll-be-bythecamty
p. 1277
nonoraom wuey L. uounun - rage 0 CDM-247)
p. 1278
HonorableWheyL. Cbmthm - Page 7 (3311-247)
p. 1279
Honorable Wiley L. Cheuhm - Pw 8 (DH-247)
Heuings al C.S.H.B. 1434 b&we the saute lam-g- Rd. colmn. 7lU Lq.
artaneatofhatorPumer)(tapemcmdiaSavailablehtnSmateStaff
zi1911g’ (
Section 140.003(f) inoorponta the rapimms ofnectioa 112.005 and 112.067
infegardtofbrfdtwfwdtwwuioNofdirtriumrrnyrMdwwulldimiamorays.
FOrtIE rasonsumodabovt cowuakgoamtykwd- 4s=d=~oounty
m~wtlwkrlyamcMetbmdistrictmt~ulduimiMldirtrictmanyrmly
notkttpadusiverwordsof~eiauttuadarpadi;hmrmdtWcowtyaditorscwu
am@ywithse&ms112.005rrd112.007hqprdtoaud1tnnudwar.
III a moMcoanty jodkhl dbtrict, may the fortdarefund8of a ditbkt
attorney or a aimind d&&t attoroey be kept b tbt county whem
they WeN forceit& or molt the funda be kept is the tounty
designated by the district jmdgct haviq jar&diction in those coontk~
panamnt to wction 140.003 of tbe W Govaament Cede?
p. 1280
Wdty L. CbmUum - Pagee 9 (DM-247)
Honorable
p. 1281
Honorable
WdeyL. C%tthm - Pa@ lO(DM-247)
p. 1282
HonorableWdq L. cbeuhm - Ptge 11 (DM-247)
p. 1203
Hononble Wdy L. Chuthm - Ptgt 12 (DM-247)
ltIUb88Ch(g)Of~140.003i9fM8t9d898~oaly,~itb~
btCWlt SWtiW 115.0035(8)gnat,pldit
8UtbO+'tO 88 WUllt)'WditCO8 ThiciSlIOt8
smisf8ctolywnuNuknbtwuseitircomnrytotbe~thmthe~
intaukd*iu mtirt ttttutt to bt &&he. stt w Cak~9311.021 (tming
llrmmpm). ontbeothatmlb&lfNbauion(g)mtlnsthmi8mdwoumy~ody
tbttuditoroftbtmpootiikoamtyhrPlditouthaity,mtbtthcofthttthtr
county 8uditorl ill those dicakt& twl the pNvick0 coneius with tdoa llS.W35,
whichsuggestsnosudladulku
llliscodiuismdvlbltbymogddng KCtiWl140.003898~i8W9BdthUS
givir@t&uto Kctioa115.003~ gwmny 8Ddtoauioa 140.w3 iathe acqtkm&
mulricwnlydiwicll.lftllecoll6kzbttwoulthe~pwvickm8ndtb8cpoddor
bcJlpNvkionis~thespeddorloc8lplwkioapuvdlc8smaocg6oato
*mpovirioq udastbegNa8l~isblmatnaumNt mdlhemMifkst
illttnt is that the gantrBl provkkn plwail.’ Id ~311.02qb). stuion 140.003, the
tptcitlplwkioQwutamtttdkta,astAttt1989,7lttLtg.,tb. lW7.tt4103;dL
1250, tt 5054 (&a of aluanmt~toitprtvtikutJlnecpiontottclial115.0035*~
gtmffpmvisi00. Weamdudethaioa8dticoumydiWktc,tbewwtyauditonofthe
cowtlaotbathMthe~oamtydonothBvt~pdborityovwthe8wwml
ofthcdimiut!tomtyoruimiatldittriut!torntytlld,bnr&nnac, ~oaly~camty
ml&orofthtrttpoakwuluyhtstudit~uadgttuiat115.0035.’
Who writa tit chtcks, ptys the bilk, md kttpa tbt monthly
ttatewtnbon thedistrict
attorney’
forfeittd
s foods?
p. 1284
HonortbleWdty L. Ckuthtm - Ptge 13 (DM-247)
A-tide 59.03 of the Code of Crim&l Proct&t pVidtSi8pft:
(c)Apuceo5cuwbosd8a~lmdatbirdl8p&trbls
aulody ofthe proper&.... NOtl8tUtbM72bXSBftUtiW
BciaJl&the~05~rhn:
-WY=-- wEBsTm~NlNnlNEw Ci.bm Mcnomlw 318
(1989). TIlt&x&wbotvtrbtsalttodyoftbe~ coarabd w&r 8&k s9.03 is
#ttpoMiiltfor~tbtpmpatynle&fiagtbtpaiodofaltlody. htidtS9.03's
~OfCUStOdytOtbtvizing05CU~~8~05~tOobfilptehis
orhtrtqhytrformsoMbkapNlathttlmo5wr’kwrsh~cdaod~.
“[W)h8ll8St8tUteCWll8dSOlgnntrmythhrs,itiPlpliedlyMborizaWh8teVefis
uxessuyfor&its tmammdsorwhueverkhditpeaubletothecjoymmtor
aerdse of tbt gnnt.” 67 TEX. JUR 3d Dufutts 0 118. tt 701(1989) (footaota Wlitttd).
p. 1285
Wtmf6rmtbtboldingofkttmty&nmlOpiaitaDM-162
(1992)thmtthtapttidiilBdcatd~rbt~rnomytht
atate by altide S9.oqc)(l) oftbt cadt OfclimiMl Pmttdwt mla
btdqmitodwitbtbtcwmy Ut8SWUfbl$tUCNNti8thtWllOly
depositofy. &tide 59.06 is 111awptioa to the lequhlw of
ttuion113041oftbtLoalGovmmaacodethtt~
btnudtbytbtanmtyt1ttamr,tbc~ofttttitn113.042
oftbeumecodetb8t8npaynKmt-bt~bythe
wwuyutuurtr,~113.043’s~titlltbtcksrad
wafTMtsbe cctmdgd by rbe county auditor, stctio8 113.064’8
rapdmmtihlt8npaymmucbeappNvtdbytlltwumymdkor*Md
tttti00140.003’8lupimlmtbtt4healunty...~...tbt
fimdsonbdulfoftherpccLlindbulatily.’ sdon140.003
fC+iESth8ttbB4d8ifbhitWCftdOf8'~bat~
hingjwisdiaioaillmortth8llwecowlykteptktbs
VUpOWiiltCOWty~dUigWttdb.VthtdiUfiUjUdgtSOftbCHt
wunties. Tbeanlmy8uditorisrtquiNdtocomplywitllcectiow
112.005 tnd 112.007 oftbt Locd Govammt codei8rtg8rdto
f~filndwtru8uionsofcormtyitwdofcunml 8pKitsMd
wumymtorDeys. Thtcouaty8uditordsoisfoqdredtocomplywith
t&on MO.W3, which kqomtts ttdons 112.005 td 112.007,
hlrtgadtofwdtwa-filndlrMmukNofdirtrictmtowtycMd
uiminlldistriumtorae)l. 3lladbmwumyl8wwfbrmnm
8gtiGSMdCOUllQ,diUIid,MdLThiMldiStfiUmOnryrlflByDOt
ktop-rtcordsoftbeir-mm.
p. 1286
Honor&k Wdty L. Cheulum - Pee 15 (Dn-247)
tbtdiUric&. Theaamty8ditorOfthempomib~eCOUfI@in8
multi~dirtricl(tsprovidtdintttdm 140.003 ofthe-
C3ommaaCodt)is~distbtonlytuuntyurditorthtth
~~~tObp~Of8diStlkt~SOrorhniaJdiarin
trlnssdons under leuions 112.ws.
112.007. ml 140.003 of tbe Loal Govtmmt Code. In
oluibay~thtalumymlditorsoftbealuntitsothathn
tkeresponsiilecwntydonotb8veaudit8utb0dyovuthe~
OftkdiNiU8ttonWyOrC7bdddiltfiUptonryU8dUvction
115.w35 oftbe Local Gownmat cde;odytbecoumyluditorol
thtl’apWSiikcamtybN&Pldit~. WbsnBpcrCe
05ctr leiMc proper@purculm to artide 59.03 of the code of
criminll Prowdwe. tbe anploya ofthu puce 05ttr is rtspoNi%k
forthcdegudingofth8tpmp8rfy8di50bliptedt0fhbUrSC
tbepacto5~forrtawnableapautsinauradinstNrkgthc
propaty~wl~~propaty rtnuinskNmody.
DAN MORALES
AnonwyoaralofTtKtS
WILLPRYOR
FiiAcsiuMtAnorneyoenerd
MARYKELLER
Deputy AttorneyOenenl for Litiption
RENEAHlcKs
state solidtor
MA,nFT.ElNEB. 3OHNSON
cluir, opiiollcowdt&w
p. 1287