January9th. 1239
Hon.weA.. stronlan
DistrictAttorney
119th JudicialDistrictof Texas
San Angelo,Texas
Dear Mr. Strcman: opinionxc,O-30
.,~
Rer Exp&me cf District
Attorney. _
Your requestfor au opinionregardingthe expenseof a DistrictAttorney
has been receivedby th+a office. 1 _
Article 3886-f,Revised Civil Statutesof Ye=8 providesoompeaskt3.0~
for DistrictAttcrneysamd the qame atatute.further
provides:
eY?othing
5n thi8 Act shall be construedso as~to depriveMstrict
Attorneysof the expenseall-cc allowedor which may hereafter
be allowedby law.*
Article 6820,Revised Civil Statutes,prcvidem
"All DietrictJudge6and DiatriotAttorneys, when engagedin the
dischargeof their official‘duties'in spy Ccuntyin.'theState other
than the Countyof their residenceshall be allonsdtheir actual
and necessaryexpensewhile actuallyengagedin the dischargeof
such duties."
not to exceed certainamountras stipulatedby said statute.
Article~6823,RevSsadCivil Statutes,provides;
"The travelbe;and other necessary expensesincurredby the var$ous
officers,assistanta,deputies,clerksand &her employww in the
variousdepartments,inatituticm, boards,ccmnissicnaor other nub
divisionsof the State 6ovWnment, in the active dischargeof their
duties shall be such as are specificallyfixed and appropriatedby
the Legislatnreiu the generalappropriationbills providingfor the
s-se* of the State Sovermucxtfrom year tc year. When approRri-
ationa for travelingexpensesarc made any allowancesor pagmeats
to offiaialsor employeoafor the use cf privatelyonned authcmobiles
shall be 011a basis of actualmileage traveledfor ea-chtrip or all
trips coveredby the expenseaccountssuhnittedfor paymentor
HOn. W. A* Stroman,January9th. 1939, Page No. 2, O-30
allowancefrom such appropriations , and such paymentor allovauce
shall be made at a rate not to exoeed five (66) cents for eaoh mile
actuallytraveled,and no additionalexpenseincidentto the operation
of such automobileshall be allowed."
Texas Jurisprudence,
Volume 34, Page 633, Section116, provides:
"dn allowancefor expenseincurred,in additionto compensationfixed
by the Constitution,may be valid and statutesprovidefor the
necessaryexpenseincurredby variousState and Countyofficersin
the performanceof their officialduties."
In view of the foregoingauthorities,it is the opinionof this Department,
that the DistrictAttorneymay collecthis actualand necessaryexpense
while actuallyengagedin the disohargeof suoh dutiesnot to exoeedthe
amount prescribedby law.
Trustingthat the foregoingenswersyour inquiry,I remain.
Yoursvery truly,
ElT.ORNEY
GiXNERAL
OF T!?XAS
s/ ArdellWilliams
By ArdellWilliams
Assistant
AW:OMBILW
APPROVgDs
Gerald C. IAenn
&lTOmEY GJixmRALOF TEXAS