ATTORNEY GENERAL

Requests for Opinions

RQ-0539-KP

Requestor:

The Honorable Charles Schwertner

Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

Texas State Senate

Post Office Box 12068

Austin, Texas 78711-2068

Re: Whether HB 1763 and HB 1919, enacted by the 87th Legislature and codified in chapter 1369 of the Insurance Code, are enforceable against a health benefit plan issuer and a pharmacy benefit manager administering the pharmacy benefits of the health benefit plan in certain circumstances (RQ-0539-KP)

Briefs requested by June 17, 2024

RQ-0540-KP

Requestor:

The Honorable Steven A. Wadsworth

Gillespie County Attorney

125 West Main Street, Suite L41

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

Re: Questions relating to potential conflicts of interest involving attorney-spouses under Rule 1.06 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct in specific circumstances (RQ-0540-KP)

Briefs requested by June 20, 2024

For further information, please access the website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or call the Opinion Committee at (512) 463-2110.

TRD-202402265

Justin Gordon

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: May 21, 2024


Opinions

Opinion No. KP-0465

Mr. J.R. Johnson

Executive Director

Texas Ethics Commission

Post Office Box 12070

Austin, Texas 78711-2070

Re: Authority of the Texas Ethics Commission to release sworn complaint information, confidential under Texas Government Code chapter 571, to a member of the Legislature for a legislative purpose (RQ-0519-KP)

S U M M A R Y

As part of the Public Information Act, Government Code section 552.008 affords a Legislator a special right of access to governmental information sought for legislative purposes. But Government Code chapter 571, governing the Texas Ethics Commission, expressly provides that documents and evidence relating to the processing, preliminary review, preliminary review hearing, or resolution of a sworn complaint are not subject to the Public Information Act. Accordingly, a court giving effect to this plain language would likely conclude that the Texas Ethics Commission may not release confidential sworn complaint information to a Legislator pursuant to a request under section 552.008.

For further information, please access the website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or call the Opinion Committee at (512) 463-2110.

TRD-202402266

Justin Gordon

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Filed: May 21, 2024