John Scott

A volunteer fire department is not a political subdivision for purposes of a county land exchange under Local Government Code subsection 263.006(e).

Scope of authority of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to accept gifts under Government Code section 441.006(b)(2)

Because the La Joya Independent School District and the Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 6 have taxation authority in overlapping territory, one individual may not simultaneously serve as a school board trustee and board member of the irrigation district. In qualifying for the second office of school district trustee, the individual does not holdover.

A court would likely conclude that: (1) the acquisition of a vehicle dedicated to transporting inmates to and from medical and mental health appointments is a permissible use of commissary funds under Local Government Code subsection 351.0415(c)(5); and (2) a sheriff has authority to expend commissary funds without first seeking the approval of the commissioners court. Whether a commissioners court may use money from the general fund to pay insurance and maintenance costs on a vehicle depends on whether the expenditure is provided in the budget.

Water Code subsection 12.013(a) authorizes the Public Utility Commission to fix reasonable rates for the furnishing of raw or treated water for any purpose under Water Code chapter 11 or 12. Water Code section 51.305 pertains to specific expenses a water control and improvement district may allocate to certain users. The two provisions do not conflict.

A race-based student disciplinary decision by an educator or school district violates the Texas Equal Rights Amendment of the Texas Constitution unless it is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling governmental interest. A court would likely conclude that avoiding a disparate impact cannot serve as a compelling governmental interest that justifies making a race-based student disciplinary decision.

To the extent ownership of the historical markers have not been lawfully transferred to another party, the markers remain the property of the State of Texas. A court would likely conclude the Texas Facilities Commission is charged with maintaining the historical markers commemorating the centennial of the Republic of Texas and the Civil War.

Code of Criminal Procedure article 103.0031 generally permits a county or a municipality to enter into a third-party collection contract to recover money owed on certain items in criminal cases, including forfeited bonds. The reference to a non-existent “section” in Code of Criminal Procedure article 103.0031(h), providing that “[t]his section does not apply to commercial bail bonds,” is a scrivener’s error that creates an absurdity, such that a court would likely construe its exception to refer to article 103.0031.