Opinion ID: 2812467
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Receipt of Public Funds

Text: First, to be “supported by” public funds, a private entity must at least “receive” public funds, so an entity that does not receive public funds is not a governmental body under this provision. Thus, while the Attorney General was cognizant in JM-821 that the role of a volunteer fire department is one “traditionally provided by governmental bodies,” this fact, standing alone, 34 is not enough. See Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. JM-821. Arguably, at least, the private high school in JM-154, the water supply corporation in JM-596, and the Fiesta planning commission in ORD569 also provided services “traditionally provided by governmental bodies.” See Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-569; Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. Nos. JM-154, JM-596. But because they did not receive public funds, they were not governmental bodies under part (xii). See TEX. GOV’T CODE § 552.003(1)(A)(xii). As the Attorney General recognized, “[t]he threshold question is whether the [private entity] receives any funds from the [public fisc].” Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-569; see also Tex. Att’y Gen. OR2013-09038 (determining that El Paso Zoological Society that received no public funds was not a governmental body).