JIM MAlTOX Attorney

General

**suprma Cowl**  **Bullding** P. 0. Box **1254s AImtIn.**  **TX. 7S711-** 

**2548 SlZ475-2501**  **TdW s1011)74.1357**  **Tslecoplrr 5121475.0255** 

**714 Juk8.w**  **Suite 700**  **Dallas. TX.**  **752024505 214rf42a044** 

**4S24 Alb.m**  **AW.. SuIta**  **lS0 El**  **Pwo. TX.**  **7Sm5.27n2 OlS!5S34B4** 

**.Ml T.rar.**  **Wt. 700**  **liouaton. TX.**  **77002-3111 7x3mx3.w** 

**w6 Broadway.** 

**SUIW 312**  **Lubbock,**

**TX. 794013479**  **5w747-5238**

**43X N.**  **Tenth. Suite**  **B MeAllen.** 

**TX. 7S501.WI5**  **512iuS2e47**

**200 MaIn**  **Plaza. SUIIS**  **4ca San**  **Antonlo. TX.**  **7S2OS2797 5121225-4191**  

# The Attorney General of Texas

I

,. Novdaer 13, 1984

Hr. Bill Rale Executive

Director Taxae Cormiaaion

on klwnen

Rights P. 0. Box 13493,Capi,tol Station Auatln,Tuaa 78711 OpinionNo. ~~-228
Re: Authority

of a localhrelation.4

comniaaion to file auit under section 4.03(5) of article 5221k.V.T.C.S.
Dear Mr. Hale:
You raqueat clc.riflcation of the source of a local human right6 c&eeion'e authority to file employment discriminationactlona. Spccifitilly,

you mk vhether e local comisaion may file civil actlonapurauaat to oection 4.03(5) of the Texas Commissionon Human RightaAct, V.T.C.8. ,#art. 5221k,withouta local ordinance authorizing arch action. We conclude that once a local coum~esion ia created pureuaat to eectioa 4.02 of the act, the local commission la authorfzed

by aectlm 4.03(5) of the act to file civil actions aa specified

In section4.03(5),which is controlled by section 4.04(a). No local ordinance LIO necessary. Thio does not. however. prevent a political

aubdlvlsioe

from either adoptingand enforcing an ordinance pursuant to eection 4.01 or delegatingto its local cormnission the power to enforce

### its ‘ordinance.
Ae a preliminary

matter, when e political subdivisionhaa no direct interestin 4, particular

claim and, consequently. no standing. it also lacks stac,ding to act in the public interest. city of Jeffcroon

v. RailroadCoumlssion, 453 S.W.Zd 906, 908 (Tex. Civ. App.

- Austin 1970. vrit ref’d n.r.e.); Ridalgo County Water Improvement Dietrict

No. 2 V. Capron County Water Control 6 Improvement District No. 5, 253 S.V.Zd 29'4, 300 (Tex. Civ. App. - **San Antonio**  1952. writ rcf’d n.r.e.) (polizlcal subdivision

may be class representative In suit relating to thtr function of the political subdivision). The legislature

may place the authority to representthe public by filing suit where it choaaw. 80 long as it does so constitutfonally. The questionof who may amaintain an action ie a matter of lav and is not subject to tha cont:rol of the parties. PieldtonCo-operative Gin v. Urtiht,259 S.U.Zd 603. 605 (Tex.Civ. App. - Amarillo 1953,no yrlt). a political ~rrbdivision may confer **upon** itself or upon its deleiatee the authority to aeaert another individual’e or entity’e cawe of-action

only as specified

by lav.
**In** addition to the jurisdiction of the state commission. article 5221k provides for two local methods of effecting its purposes: one

p. 1023* Hr. Bill Bale - Page 2 (JW:!;!~)

by the political subdivisionitself and the other through a local cowaiseion. Section4.01 lnilicates that [a] political

subdivision

may adopt and enforcean ordinance that prchibitepracticesdesignatedaa unlawful under this Act, or otheruiee declared unlavful under fecleral or state lav. (Emphasis added). Section4.02 providesfor local com~fssions in part as follows:
A political subdivision or tvo br more political subdivisions

acting jointly 3 create a local **cormission** to promote the purposes of this Act.
. . . (EmphaM.s added). Both of these provisions are permissive; thus, a polftical subdivision need not enact and enforce employment discrimination ordinances

and need not create a local human righte coamission which vould promote the purposesof article 5221k on the local level. No local action is necessary :lorenforcement'ofarticle 5221k on the local levelby the state compj:sslon absent these actions. A political -- subdivision

prry delegatethe authorityto enforceits oun section4.01 ordinance;

hovevet.once a poltitical subdivision

creates

a local humen rights comnission pursuant to this statute, which specifically authorizes certain powers, the local cod6sion has at least the power* authorized

by the ewtute. See AttorneyGeneralOpinion E-753 (1975); see also Attorney -GralOplnions Ii-1092 (1977); E-619 (1975). Section 4.01 is a provisionwhich emphasizesthat a political subdivision

is not preempted

from preventing

employment

discrimination and which grants authority to prevent local discriminationby enforcement of a local ordinance which may or may not duplicate article 5221k. Generally,l.ocal regulationthat is ancillary to and In harmonvwith the general lmcooe and ouroose of state enactmentsis acceptable. City of Brook&de'Villag; ;. Comeau. 633 S.W.Zd 790. (Tea 1982) cert. denied.-459 U.S. 1087 (1982). Article 5221k specificallyauthorizes 1ocs:l ordinances:nothing in article 5221k p;ohibits

a-political

subdivision

from delegating

ihe power to enforce its ordinances to its local :mmission.
**Section** 4.02 Is an indlependent provision,with regulationby local commissionsguided by-the provisions of article 5221k rather than by the provisions of ;I local ordinance. Therefore. a local commission

createdpursuantto section 4.02 has the authorityto file certaincivil actloneto enfmce article 5221k.as directly grantedby section 4.03(5) of the act. Section 4.03(5) grants local commissions the pouer

p. 1024.

Mr. Bill lisle

- Page 3 **(~~-228)**

to receive, investigate. seek to conciliate, and pass on complaintsalleging violations of thia **Act,** and file civil actions to effectuate the **purposes** of thia **Act** if the federalgovernment or state emission hi;8 referredthe complaint to the coamission

or has Tleferred

jurisdiction

over the subject matter o:? the complaint to the COW mission.

. . . (E$asIs added).
A local human rights comrm~.esion may file civil actions in **these** instances,

as furthercontrolled by section4.04(a), without separate authorization

by locsl ordinance.

j;UMMARY The authority of a local human rights commission, created pursuant to section 4.02 of article 5221k. to file. civil actions pursuant to section 4.03(5) 16 not contingent upon enactment of a local ordinance. Nevertheless, a political subdivision may ttdopt and enforce a local ordinance

pursuantto section4.01, and nothing in article 5221k proribits a political subdivision from delegating

to its local commission the pouer to enforcethe ord:lnance. Very trulyyour 

# J b

A **-** JIM MATTOX **Attorney** Generalof Texas
TOM GREEN **First** Assistant

Attorney

General
DAVID R. RICHARDS Executive

**Assistant** Attorney General Prepared

by Rick Gilpin Assistant

**Attorney** General
APPROVED: OPINION COMMITTEE Rick Gilpin,Chairman Jon Bible Colin Carl **Suaan** Garrison Jim Hoellinger **Nancy Sutton** 

p. 1025