THE ATJXBRNEY GENERAL 

OF TEXAS 

Decemberll. 1975 

TheBriorable~Jackscm 

Emzutive Director 

TexasYouthBuhcil 

201 East 14th street 

Austin, Texas 78701 

Bar Mr. aBckson: 

CQinion No. n-748 

Fe: Administrationof the 

l%zlnssma.intajnadhyths 

lkxas Youth Council for 

E"dnegleded 

. 

Youhaveaskedtwoquestionsamemingthea&ninistrationofthe 

~YouthQuncil's~fordependentandnsglectedchildren. Your 

questions are: 

(1) Mayhouseparentsheenployedonalive-in 

hasis witbut violating article 5159d, V.T.C.S.? 

(2) May the TexasYouthCouncil contjnue tooffer 

educationalsl?rvices,includinglmusingandmeals, 

onavoluntarybasis toresidentsof thehmzswhc 

have reached ths age of eighteen (1811 

Youhaveinfoxm&usthatthehousepa?xntsinvolm?dwnlldhe 

umrrisd couples and Would be paid not less than $7,560.00 per person par 

snnun. Article 5159d reqires a nCn.imn wage of $1.40 per hour subject 

to certain exceptions. Secticm 4(b) (3) exempts ",y person wloyed in 

a . . .professional capacity." We neednotd&emue*theror inwhat 

circunstancesahouseparent~dbewithinthis~m,forunder 

ths infomationyouhave suppliedtous it is clear that article 5159d, 

assuningits applicability, wouldmtpmhibit this eqloymnt. A 

salary of $7,560.00 per annun is roughly equivalento $145.00 per week. 

Thus, suchaneroplayeecouldbe~~toworkalmost104 imursper 

week withxt any violation of article 5159d. You have informed us that 

~the~parentswillprabablywork55to6Ohoursperweekandwill 

therefore receivemre than themininunwage. It may also be noted that 

sections 5(c) and 5(d) are applicable. 

p. 3172 
'Ibe Honorable Ikm Jackson - page tm (H.- 748) 

Your secondguestionishhetherthe Texas YouthCouucilmayamtinue tooffereducationalservices, inclwlinghousing andmeals, to 

residents of the l-mes when they reach 18 years of age. Article 5143d, 

section 9a, V.T.C.S. provides: 

Subject to such policies as the Texas Youth 

Councilmayadopt,theCorsicanaStateliane, 

theWestlkxasChil&en'sRcmat Pyote, and 

the Waco Stats l-km2 may accept for amnission 

any child betmen the ages of three (3) years 

and eighteen (18) years whc is a full orphan, 

ahalf-omhan.ora demndentaudneclscted 

child, and may offer, if needed, car& treatment, 

education,andtrainiug,tosuchchildrenasare 

admitted thereto until they ha reached the age 

of +zwenty-ona (21) years. (&zaSlS added) 

In our view, this article clearly authorizes the provision of care 

audaducationon avoluntarybasis tc residents of thehams*have 

reached ths age of 18 b.xt not 21. WetelievetheLegislature iutended 

to specify thatotherpersons, at the discretionof theYouthCouncil, 

would amtinue tcbe qualified for these benefits witbutregard to 

theirlegalinfancy or adult status. Attorney General @inion H-585 

(1975). canpare Attorney General C&ion H-83 (1973). 

SUMMARY 

UnderthestatedfactstheTexasYouth 

Cbuncilmay~loyhouseparentsonalive-in 

basis without violating article 5159d. 

TheYouthCcuncilmyamtinue tooffer 

educatimlalservicesandcare,includingmsals 

andlxmsing, on amluutarybasis to residents 

ofl-uaes fordepemkntamdneglectedpersons 

andorphansaftertheyreachl8yearsofage 

anduntiltheyreach21yearsofage. 

AttorneyGeneral of lkxas 

p. 3173 
. . 

The Homrable F&m Jackson - page three (H-748) 

p. 3174