THEATTORNEYGENERA% OF TEXAS
Ausm 11. TEXAS GroverSellera -ON
HonorableLeonardCarltoa,Comnlssioner Bureau of Labor Statietloa Au&in, Texas
Dear Sir: opinionHO. o-6879 Fte: Legalityof certainfee0 chargedby employment agencieein Texas.
Your recent lettersubmittedfor our eoneldemtlon and oglnlon reada ae follows:
"Section11 of the Texae Emploment and Lebor Agency Lsw anthorleee a fee to be charged for obtainingemployneat,such a fee in IIOevent to exceed $3.00 and same to be collectedfrom the applicantonly after eaploymenthas been obtained and acceptedby the applicant. Thle sectionfurther providesthat such age&e engagedexolueirely in provldtig employmentfor akllledprofeesional or clericalpositionamay charge a fee not to exceed 30 percentof the first month'8ealary.
"a. It has been called to our attentionthat certain employmentagenciesin thie State charge a registrationfee, that is, when an sppllcant desiresto be placedon the agsncq'eavailable liet the applicantpaye said agency a fee regard- less a8 to whether or llotemploymentle ever given him or her. Is this permittedby the statutes'l
"b. Other agenoisecharge a flat monthly regie- tratlonfee such a61 either$1.00 or $2.00 a month, this cum to be paid by the applicantregardlessof whether or not emploment ia obtained,and upon the refusalor failureof the applicantto pay said regie- trationfee his neme ie wlthdmwn from the list of availableemploysee. Is this permleeibleunder the Texas statutes?
"c. Some~agencies,while charging,a'fUt raglet~ationfee of either$2.00 or $3.00, then upon obtaining and aoceptanaeof employmentof HonorableLeonardCarlton - page 2 - O-6879
the applicantdeductthat from the authorized 30 per cent commieeion. Is this praotloeper- rlselbleunder our statutes?
Ud. Certainuurees organizationsin this State am operatingae abore outlinedbut claim exemptionby virtue of Section 2 of the Act.
The presentTexas Employmentand Iabor Agemy Law va8 enacted by the 48th Legislature,Aote of 1943, page 86, chapter67, and in designat& In Vernon'sAnnotatedCivil Statutesof Texas, 1925, am emended,as Article 522la-4. Section 1 (3) definesan employmentor laboragent ae follows:
"(e) '1Bployment or Labor Agent'Ipeaueany pereon in thie State who for a fee offem or at- tempts to procureor procuresemploymentfor em- ployees,or with a fee offers or attapts to procureor procuresemploymentfor common laborers or agrloulturalworkers, or any peraonwho for a fee offers or attemptsto procureor procuree employeesfor employem, or withouta fee offers or attemptato procureor procurescommon laborers or agriculturalworkerefor employera,or any per- non, regardlessof whethera fee le receivedor due, offers,or attemptsto supplyor suppliesthe services of common or agricultural workersto any pereon.",
Section2 of the Act sets forth the exaeptloneto the pro- visionsof this Act and among other thinge atatee that, #the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any person,corporation,or charitable association,charteredunder the laws of Texas for the purposeof conducting a free employmentbureauor agency;nor to any veterans'organizationor labor union;nor to any nurses'organizationoperatednot for profit,to be conductedby recognizedprofeeslonalregietereduureee for the enrollnwntof Its profaeelonalmembersonb for the purposeof providing professionalserviceto the public."(Underscoring ours).
Section 11 of the Act Is as follow:
"Fs. Where a fee is chargedfor obtaln- lng -ployrent such ,feein no event ehall eroeed the nm of Three ($3) Dollam, which may be col- lectedfrom the applicantonly after colployment has been obtainedand acceptedby the applicant; provided,however,employmentor labor agent8 engagede~clualvelyIn providingemploymentfor skilled,professional, or clericalpositionemay charge,with the writtenconsentof the applicant, a