Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act
Re: Implementation of section 601.123 of the Transportation Code, concerning the establishment of financial responsibility by making a deposit with the County Judge. (RQ-1176-GA).
Submitted by Janna Ivey Lindig
Bandera County Attorney
Summary, Opinion No. 1068: An additional deposit of at least $55,000 with the County Judge is required to establish financial responsibility under section 601.123 of the Transportation Code for a second vehicle if financial responsibility for that vehicle has not otherwise been established through an authorized method. The owner of a vehicle may provide evidence of financial responsibility for an additional driver only if the other person is employed by the owner or is a member of the owner’s immediate family or household pursuant to section 601.054(a) of the Transportation Code. In the absence of any other statutory or regulatory guidance, a court could conclude that a County Judge may deposit funds received pursuant to section 601.123 of the Transportation Code into a separate account in the county depository and use his or her discretion to decide whether that account should be an interest-bearing account. Interest earned on funds deposited with the County Judge under section 601.123 of the Transportation Code belongs to the person making the deposit. In the absence of statutory authority, a county may not collect an administrative fee in connection with a deposit of funds made to a County Judge under section 601.123 of the Transportation Code.
Juvenile Probation Department Personnel Manual
Re: Authority of the Rockwall County Juvenile Board over policy matters of the juvenile probation department, including the adoption of a personnel manual (RQ-1178-GA).
Submitted by Kenda Culpepper
Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney
Rockwall County Courthouse
Summary, Opinion No. GA-1069: The Rockwall County Juvenile Board possesses authority to adopt written department policy and to adopt a personnel policy manual for use by the juvenile probation department. HH