Border Health Institute
Re: Whether the Border Health Institute is a state agency for various purposes (RQ-0229-GA).
Submitted by Jos? R. Rodr?guez
El Paso County Attorney
Summary, Opinion No. GA-280: The Border Health Institute is neither a state agency within the executive branch of state government nor a local political subdivision. The BHI may or may not be entitled to sovereign immunity. It must comply with the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act. It is not required to follow state procurement and contracting rules, nor is it subject to civil service rules. The BHI need not obtain nonprofit corporation status because it has statutory authority to solicit funding from public and private sources.
Overlapping Appraisal Districts
Re: Whether Tax Code section 6.025(d) requires chief appraisers in overlapping appraisal districts to enter on the tax roll either the property’s lowest market value or lowest appraised value established by the two districts, but not both the lowest market value and the lowest appraised value (RQ-0239-GA).
Submitted by Mike Stafford
Harris County Attorney
Summary, Opinion No. GA-283: With respect to property lying in overlapping appraisal districts, section 6.025(d) of the Tax Code requires the chief appraiser of each of the overlapping districts to enter in the appraisal records the lowest values, appraised and market, listed by any of the overlapping districts.
Authority over Retirement, Medical Benefits
Re: Which entity has authority to approve retirement and medical benefits for the Jefferson County Waterway and Navigation District Board members: the Jefferson County Commissioners Court or the Waterway and Navigation District Board (RQ-0243-GA).
Submitted by Tom Maness
Jefferson County Criminal District Attorney
Summary, Opinion No. GA-284: Section 62.070 of the Water Code, which authorizes a county commissioners court to determine