DAN MORALES

:,TTOHS’EI GESERAL 

## @fficeof tip !Zlttornep Qhmeral &ate of ?Eexae May 4,1992

Honorable Nathan B. Rheinlander Comal County Attorney 150N. Seguin, Suite 318 New Braunfels, Texas 78130 Opinion No. DM-114

Re: Whether persons appointed to boards and commissions by the commissioners court are subject to removal by the commissioners court (RQ-72)

Dear Mr. Rheinlander:

You inquire about the removal of individuals from certain boards and commissions whose members are appointed by the commissioners court. The entities in question are the Coma1 County Water Oriented Recreation District (W.O.R.D.), see Local Gov’t Code ch. 324, the four Fire Prevention Districts, see Health & Safety Code ch. 794, and the Emergency Services District, see Health & Safety Code chs. 775,776 (counties of 125,000or less). The statutes governing these entities are silent as to removal of board members. You wish to know whether the board members are county officers, subject to removal by the district judge after a jury trial, as set out in article V, section 24 of the Texas Constitution and sections 87.001 through 87.032 of the Local Government Code. You also suggest that the appointees serve at the pleasure of the commissioners court, subject to dismissal by the court at any time.’

Article V, section 24 ofthe Texas Constitution provides as follows:
County Judges, county attorneys, clerks of the District and County Courts, justices of the ~peace, constables, and other county officers, may be removed by the Judges of the District Courts for incompetency, of&&l misconduct, habitual drunkenness, or other causes defined by law, upon the cause

‘AttorneyGeneralOpinionH-l37 (1973).whichis thebasisof this suggestion,actuallyrelied
on a statute.

expresslyauthorizingthe removalof portcommissionersbythe authoritythatappointed them.

512W63.2100 P.O. BOX 12548 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78il I-2%8

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therefor being set forth in writing and the 6nding of its truth by
ajury.2 (Footnote added.)

See &o Local Gov’t Code 5 87.012 (district judge may remove county officers from office, including “acounty officer, not otherwise named by this section”).

As a general rule, officers and employees may be removed only in the
manner designated by statute. 4 MCQUILLIN, MUNICIPAL

C%WORATIONS 0 12.255 (3d ed. 1985);see aLFo

State exreLHickman v.Alcom, 14 S.W. 663,665 (Tex. 1890) (removal statutes are subject to strict construction). Thus, when an officer has a set term, as opposed to serving at the pleasure ofthe appointing authority, the officer is not subject to removal at the will of the appointing authority. Don.@& v. Stateer reLAllred, 73 S.W.2d 83 (Tex. 1934); Attorney General Opinion JM-1064 (1989). Where a valid statute prescribes the removal method for a county officer, that method is deemed exclusive. Statea reL Kellyv. Baker, 580 S.W.2d 611,614 (Tex. Civ. App.-Amarillo 1979, no writ); State ex rel. Dow v. Hamq, 164 S.WZd 55 (Tex. Civ. App.-San Antonio 1942,writ refd w.o.m.); see aLroGarcia v. Laughlin. 285 S,W.2d 191(Tex. 1955).

In Akline Indep. School Disk v. Standlqv,280 S.W.2d 578 (Tex. 1955). the Texas Supreme Court concluded that the tax assessor-collector appointed by a school board was an employee and not an officer subject to removal only under the constitutional provision. The applicable statute authorized, but did not require, the school board to appoint its own tax assessor-collector. Moreover, it did not fix a term of office for the assessor-collector, require him to take the oath of office, provide for removal, or establish his qualifications. Finally, the statute vested in the school board the authority to determine rendition procedures and to adopt
measures for assessing property and collecting taxes. The court concluded that “the governing body ofthe taxing district is the agency which is vested by the Legislature with the sovereign powers ofthe State in assessing and collecting taxes.” 280 S.W.2d at 581. The tax assessor-collector was only g agent or employee of the school board. Id at 582-83.

The ‘supreme court in Akfine Independent School District, quoted the following definition of “public officer” from Dunbar v. Bmzoria County,224 S.W.2d 738, 740-41 (Tex. Civ. App.-Galveston 1949,writ refd), which concluded that the

*Article XV oftheTexasCoostitution provides forremovalofstateofficers.

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county road engineer was not a “public officer”for purposes of article V, section 24 ofthe Texas Constitution:

(Tlhe determining factor which distinguishes a public officer from an employee is whether any sovereign function of the government is conferred upon the ~individualto be exercised by him for the benefit ofthe public largely independentofthecontrol 

### ofothers.

280 S.WJd at 583 (citing 224 S.W.2dat 740-41) (emphasis added by supreme court). This definition sumrnarixes the essential elements of public office: the officeholder’s authority to exercise governmental power for the benefit of the public and his independence from the control of other governmental entities-s The nature of the power conferred upon the individual is relevant to the first element, while the fixed term and freedom from dismissal at another’s discretion are relevant to the second.

A board member must meet this definition of “officer;” and be a “county officer” as well, to be subject to removal by the district judge pursuant to article V. section 24 ofthe Texas Constitution and chapter 87 ofthe Local Government Code. Bomerv. BeLrterling.

138S.W.571,574 (Tex. 1911). Trustees of school districts have been held to be “county officers,” subject to removal in accordance with the statutes adopted under article V, section 24. Fowler v. Tlromar, 275 S.W. 253 (Tex Civ. App.-Austin 1925, writ dism’d w.0.j.); Hendericks v. State, 49 S.W. 705 (Tex. Civ. App. 1899, no writ); see Bomer, 138 S.W. at 573 (expressly approving holding in Hem&vi&s). The court in Hendericks determined that for purposes of removing school district trustees, districts were “subdivisions of the county.4 as are

%IIcearticle

XVI, section1oftheTexasCcmstitution requireselectedandappointedofficers to takeanoath ofoffice,this requirement will applyto a publicofficerevenifthe applicablestatuteis silent as to an oath. FrenchY.Stafe,572 S.W.Zd 934,93S (Tex. Grim.App. 1977);AttorneyGeneral opinion Mw-177 (DSO).

‘In GahwstonCowtryCommh’ C.ou#v. Lohec, 814 S.W.2d751 (Tcx. AppiHouston [14tb Dii] 1991 wit granted),the countyauditorsoughta declaration thatabeackparkboardestablished by a countyunder chapter62 of the NaturalResourcesCode was a countydepartmentrequiredto make puxkases and pay claimstkrougbthe countyauditorand its purcbasiagagent. The courtof appeals ruled that beach park boards were not departmentsor subdivisions of the county, but independententitiesseparatefromthe count, thus, theywerenot requiredto use the countyauditor
orpwhasiig agent.

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commissioners’ and justices’ precincts,” and that precinct officers were “county officers.” 49 S.W. at 705-06 (footnote added). It concluded that trustees of school districts were county officers, and this conclusion was approved by the Texas Supreme Court in Banner, 138 S.W. at 573. See ako Engleman Lard Co. v. Donna InigatioqDirt No. I, 209 S.W. 428 (Tex. Civ. App.-San Antonio 1919, writ refd) (stating in dicta that elected director of irrigation district was county officer witbin removal statute).

We will examine the statutes governing the three districts in question to determine whether members of their governing boards are “county officers” within the statute and constitutional provision governing removal of county officers. Both
an emergency services district and a fire protection district may be created wholly in
one county or in territory located in more than one county. Health & Safety Code $9776.011. 776.012,794.011,794.012. However, the districts you inquire about are all located wholly within Comal County; thus, we will address only those provisions applicable to districts located,wholly within one county.

Article III, section 48-e of the Texas Constitutions authorizes the enactment of legislation providing for the creation of special districts for emergency services, such as emergency medical services, emergency ambulance services, and rural fire prevention and control services. Chapter 776 of the Health and Safety Code, which provides for the creation of emergency services districts in counties of 125,000 or less, governs the Comal County district. An emergency services diitrict is established by election after a petition is filed with the county judge and the commissioners court holds a public hearing on the pros and cons of creating a district. Id 99776.011,776.013 - .016,776.019. Ifthe commissioners court finds that creation ofthe district is feasible and willpromote the public safety, welfare, health, and convenience of persons residing in the proposed district, it must grant the petition and order an election to confirm the district’s creation and authorize it to impose a tax- Id $8776.017- .019.

The commissioners court of the county appoints the board members that govern an emergency services district located wholly in one county. Id Q776.033. Board members serve two-year terms, except for two members of the initial board

tie text of this constitutionalprovisionwas adopted at the November 3, 1981 election pursuant to S.J.R.No. 27,Acts 1987,7Otb Leg, 0 1. Anothersection4%ewhichauthorizesthecreation ofjail districts,

was adoptedat the.November3, 1987electionpursuantto HJ.R. No. lS, Acts 19S7, 7OthLc&Ol.

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appointed to one-year terms. Id 3776.033(b). The board is required to administer the district in accordance with chapter 776 of the Health and Safety Code, tL 5776.035(a)(5), which authorizes it to exercise various governmental powers. The district may acquire and sell real and personal property; appoint officers, agents, and employees; sue and be sued; impose and collect taxes; exercise certain specific powers relevant to providing emergency services; and enter into contracts. Id 9 776.031. Because these governmental powers are conferred upon the board, to be exercised for the benefit of the public largely independent of the control of others, the board members are public officers within the definition in Aldine Independenr School District. See Ci@of PortArthurv. Wallace, 171 S.W.2d 480,481 (Tex. 1943) (providing fire protection is governmental function); Cityof Sm Angelo v. Deutsch, 91 S.W.2d308,309 (Tex. 1936) (tax collection); Cig ofDullasv.Moreau. 718 S.W.2d 776 (Tex. Civ. App.-Corpus Christi 1986, writ refd n.r.e.) (hiring and firing employees).

We believe that the members of the board ofthe emergency services district for Comal County are county officers. The district is located within tbe county, and its purpose is to provide emergency services for the people of the county. Board members are appointed and vacancies are filled by the commissioners court. Health & Safety Code 9776.033. The board must file an annual report with the court on the district’s administration and financial condition, id 9 776.035(a)(4), and cannot issue bonds without the court’s approval. Id 5 776.076. Tlu, the commissioners court has a significant role in its creation as well as a continuing role in its operation. Based on these relationships between the emergency services district and the county, the members ofthe district board are county officers for purposes of the removal statute. See Henderickx49 S.W. 705; Attorney General Opinion JM-1064 (members of board of managers of county hospital district are county offtcers). Therefore, board members may be removed only by trial in accordance with the provisions of article V, section 24 of the Texas Constitution, and chapter 87 of the Local Government Code; the commissioners court has no power to remove them.

Article III, section 48-d of the Texas Constitution authorizes legislation providing for the creation of rural fire prevention districts. The provisions on the creation and governance of a fire protection district located wholly within one county track the provisions applicable to an emergency services district. See, eg.. Health & Safety Code 03794.013- .020 (creation of district by election following petition procedure). For example, the commissioners court appoints the members of the governing board to two-year terms and fills vacancies on the board. Id 8794.033. The board has power to acquire and sell real and personal property,

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enter into contracts, appoint officers, agents, and employees, sue and be sued, levy and enforce the collection oftaxes, and to “perform other acts necessary to carry out the intent of

. . . chapter [794 of the Health and Safety Code].” Id 0794.031. The board of the rural fire prevention district must also report to the commissioners court, ia! Q794.035(a)(4), and may not issue bonds or notes without the approval of the commissioners court, id 5794.076.

The provisions applicable to the rural fire protection districts in Comal County are virtually identical in relevant aspects to the provisions governing the emergency services districts. For the reasons discussed in connection with the officers of the emergency service districts, the members of the board governing the 6re prevention district are also county officers within article V, section 24 of the constitution and section 87.012 of the Local Government Code. Accordingly, they too may only be removed by a districtjudge in accordance with those procedures.

The Comal County W.O.R.D. is a park district created pursuant to chapter 324 of the Local Government Code, which authorizes creation of a park district in the unincorporated area of a county that has river frontage on both the Guadalupe and Comal rivers. Local Gov’t Code 9 324.001. A district is created by an election ordered by the commissioners court, and it may be dissolved by order of the commissioners court. Id 90324.024, 324.124. The district governing board is appointed to two-year terms by the commissioners court. Id 0324.041. Board members take the official oath, see Tex. Const. art. XVI, 5 1, and file a bond with the county clerk. Local Gov’t Code 9 324.042.’In addition to these indicia of office, the statute confers several governmental powers upon the board. See. eg., ia! 08324.064 (enter into contracts), 324.066 (adopt rules for use of park, enforceable by criminal penalty), 324.067,324.068 (acquire and sell land), 324.091 (issue revenue bonds after authorization by bond election), 325.068(invest the district’s funds).

The board is, however, subject to the supervision of the commissioners court in accordance with the followingprovision:

(a) The board is subject to the supervision of the commissioners court in the exercise of all its rights, powers, and privileges and in the performance ofits duties.
(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date on which the board acts, the commissioners court may approve or disapprove the action. Ifthe court disapproves the act, the act is ineffective.

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Otherwise, the act becomes effective on the date that the commissioners court approves the act or on the 31st day after the date on which the board acted, whichever is first.

Id #324.045.
Thus, the commissioners court is authorized to veto exercises of governmental power by the Comal County W.O.R.D. Board. Nonetheless, the W.O.R.D. Board is the entity upon which is conferred some part of the sovereign authority of the state. Its powers are delegated to it by statute and not by the commissioners court. It exercises these powers in its own right, and not as an agent of the commissioners court. See Green v. Stewart, 516 S.W.2d 133, 136 (Tex. 1974) (“One who acts in his own right is, in the words of Aldine and Dunbar, largely independent of the control of others”). Only the board may initiate the exercise of the district’s powers, and its determinations will govern the district unless disapproved within 30 days by the commissioners court.6 We believe that the board’s authority to initiate the exercise of governmental powers is a “sovereign function of the government” conferred upon it to be exercised “largely independent ofthe control of others.” Accordingly, board members are public officers within the test set out in AkiineIndependent SchoolDistrict.

We also conclude that they are county officers. The district was created within the boundaries of Comal County, and its relationship to the county governing body is even closer than that of the emergency services district board or the rural fire prevention district board. Members of the Comal County W.O.R.D. Board are county officers subject to removal only in accordance with article V, section 24 of the constitution and section 87.012ofthe Local Government Code.

In conclusion, the commissioners court does not have authority to discharge members of the governing boards of the emergency services district in the county, the fire prevention districts in the county, or the members of the Comal County Water Oriented Recreation District. Members of these boards are county officers, subject to removal only by a district courtjudge pursuant to article V, section 24 of the Texas’Constitution, and chapter 87 of the Local Government Code. They are not subject to dismissal by the commissioners court.

%E. dlocation of power between the W.O.R.D. board and the commissioners court is somewhatIikethe allocationof powerbetweenthe legislatureand the governorin the adoptionand veto oflegislation. SeeTex.Cons. art.III,0 1;art.IV,p 14.

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## SUMMU
County officers may be removed from office only by the district judge after a triaJ, in accordance with article V, section 24 of the Texas Constitution and sections 87.001through 87.832 of the Local Government Code. Members of the governing board of an emergency services district established wholly in one county under chapter 776 of the Health and Safety Code, members of the governing board of a rural fire prevention district established wholly within one county under chapter 794 ofthe Health and Safety Code, and members ofthe board of the Comal County Water Oriented Recreation District established under chapter 324 of the Local Government Code, are county officers within article V, section 24 ofthe Texas Constitution.

DAN MORALES Attorney General ofTexas

WILL PRYOR First Assistant Attorney General

MARY KELLER Deputy Assistant Attorney General

RENEAHIcKs Special Assistant Attorney General

MADELEINE B.JOHNSON Chair, Opinion Committee
Prepared by Susan L Garrison Assistant Attorney General

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