Court Opinion

ID: 4131274
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 01:13:56.785986+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:10:55.198698
License: Public Domain

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     -.       :-

                                               The Attorney           General of Texas

    JIM MATTOX                                                    lugust 20, 1984
    Attorney General

    Supreme      Court Building              Honorable Margaret    Ifoore              Opinion No. JM-193
    P. 0. BOX 12546
                                             Travis County Atto:rlley
    Austin.    TX. 76711. 2546
    512/475-2501
                                             P. 0. Box 1748                            Re: Whether a commissioners
    Telex    9101674-1367                    Austin, Texas      78.'117                court may authorize certain
    Telecopier     512,475.0266                                                        fees under article 3926a,
                                                                                       V.T.C.S.
    714 Jackson.    Suite 700
    Dallas.   TX. 75202.4506                 Dear Ms. Moore:
    214,742.6944
                                                  You have reqwsted our opinion as to whether a commissioners
                                             court may set a fee for a service for which no fee was authorized
    4624 Alberta        Ave., Suite    160
    Et Paso. TX.        79905-2793
                                             prior to September 1, 1981, the effective date of article 3926a,
    Q15/533-3464                             V.T.C.S. That ntaulte provides:

                                                           (a) :lhecommissioners court of each county may
,&ylOl      Texas,    Suite 700                         set reasonable fees to be charged for services by
       ouston.     TX. 77002-3111
                                                        the offiws of sheriffs and constables.
     1131223-5666

                                                           (b) 11 commissioners court may not set fees
     606 Broadway,        Suite 312                     higher tnsn is necessary to pay the expenses of
     Lubbock.    TX.     79401-3479                     providing:the services.
     6OW747-5236

                                                  Initially, we note the suggestion that article 3926a, insofar
     4309 N. Tenth, Suite S                  it affects sherifffi,is in conflict with article V, section 23 of the
     McAlten,     TX. 76501.1665             Texas Constitution, which provides for the election of a sheriff
     5121662.4547                            "whose duties and Iwrquisites, and fees of office, shall be prescribed
                                             by the Legislature . . . ." (Emphasis added). Cf. Tex. Const. art.
     200 Main Plaza, Suite 400               V, 520 (county ckclr). It is argued that the legislature itself, not
     San Antonio,  TX. 76205.2797            a commissioners cwlrt, must set s       fees charged for a sheriff's
     5121225-4191                            services.

     An Equal       Opportunity/
                                                  We begin by r,oting that constitutional provisions are to
     Affirmative      Action     Employer
                                             construed in the :.:.ghtof conditions existing at the time of their
                                             adoption, Director cf the Department of Agriculture and Environment
                                             Printing IndustriezFAssociation of Texas. 600 S.W.Zd 264 (Tex. 19801,
                                             that a constitutional meanine fixed won       its adootion is never
                                             different at a subsequent time, Jones v.'Ross, 173 S:k'.2d1022 (Tex.
                                             1943); Cramer v. Sheppard, 167 S.W.2d 147 (Tex. 1942), and that the
                                             readoption of a prcwision, using the same language, is presumed
                                             have been done wi.:h a purpose not to change the law. See Cox
                                             Robison, 15G S.W. 1149 (Tex. 1912). Except for a changein         1954
                                                                         _,
                                                                              ,   .

IlonornhleMargaret Moore - :?age2   (JM-193)

making a sheriff's term o:i office four years rather than two, the
language of article V, se:rion 23 has been the same since it was
adopted as an original part ,,fthe constitution in 1876.

     In 1876, the phrase "fees of office," in the context of its
article V. section 23 use, neant "the reward or compensation or wages
allowed bv law to an officer for services Derformed by him in the
discharge-of his official &ties."    City of Austin v. Johns, 62 Tex.
179 (1884). See also __ Veltnan v. Slator, 217 S.W. 378 (Tex. 1919);
State v. Moore, 57 Tex. 307 (1882). The i~ntentof the constitutional
provision was that the legislature itself should specify the fees a
sheriff might collect and retain as his personal compensation. The
purpose was undoubtedly to prevent any sheriff from exacting tribute,
in the form of fees, to enri,:hhimself. _Cf. Tarrant County v. Butler,
80 S.W. 656 (Tex. Civ. App. 1904, no writ) (as to county clerk).

     The meaning of article V, section 23 remains the same today, but
no longer do sheriffs rz:ain collected fees as their personal
compensation. Article XVI, section 61 was added to tha constitution
in 1935, amended in 1948, alsiamended again in 1972. It abolished the
fee system for compensating sheriffs; the commissioners courts of all
counties are now required IO compensate such officers on a salary
basis. See Wichita County Y. Robinson, 276 S.W.2d 509 (Tex. 1954);
Srttegast v. Harris County,-L59 S.W.2d 543 (Tex. Civ. App. - Galveston
1942, writ ref'd). Fees set by the legislature were not abrogated by
the new provision, but the! purpose to which they could be put was
changed. Banks v. State, :I62 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Civ. App. - Austin
1962, writ ref'd); State v,--3
                             Glass 167 S.W.2d 296 (Tex. Civ. App. -
Galveston 1942). writ ref'tiw.0.m. per curism, 170 S.W.2d 470 (Tex.
1943).

     "Fees of office" for sheriffs in the sense used by article V,
section 23 no longer exist. The danger which that provision was
designed to control by direct legislative oversight (and the only
subject matter on which it s:ts) has been constitutionally eliminated.
Today, article V, sectior 23 of the Texas Constitution no more
prohibits the delegation tc commissioners courts of fee-setting power
than it prohibits the delegation to them of power to set the salaries
and perquisites for she:r::ffs. See V.T.C.S. art. 3912k.           Cf.
Commissioners Court of Lubbock County v. Martin, 471 S.W.2d 100 (Tex.
Civ. App. - Amarillo 1971, -grit ref'd n.r.e.). Accordingly, we turn
to an examination of the ststute itself.

     Article 3926a, V.T.C.S., delegates to the commissioners court
power to "set reasonable iers to be charged for services by the
offices of sheriffs and coIlstables." (Emphasis added). Insofar as
sheriffs are concerned, sxtion    23 of article V of the Texas
Constitution specifies th;,t the duties of the sheriff are to be
prescribed by the 1egisLsture (a task -not delegated to the
    Honorable Margaret Moore - Page 3    (JM-193)

A

    commissioners court), but a description of duties to be discharged by
    a sheriff need not, and us.l.311~does not, describe all the services
    that might be performed in 1:hedischarge of those duties. Starr v.
    Board of Commissioners of Lelaware County, 79 N.E. 390 (Ind. App.
    1906).

         The services a sheriff officially performs are merely actions
    that further the discharge .)f his duties (deeds that are useful or
    instrumental in achieving-that object). See Van Zandt v. Fort Worth
    Press, 359 S.W.2d 893 (Tex. 1962). Thesetting       of a fee for a
    service, if such a servic? is performed in the discharge of a
    sheriff’sxties,   is not the equivalent of requiring that the service
    be performed, or a prescription of the sheriff’s duties. The fixing
    of fees for a sheriff’s serItces, whether or not a fee was previously
    charged for them, is entirely compatible with the prescription of a
    sheriff’s duties by the leg:.r;lature.

         We have found no ccnstitutional provisions or conflicting
    statutes that prevent a ccnmissioners court from setting a fee for
    services performed by the offices of sheriffs and constables in
    accordance with article 39:!Oa,V.T.C.S., even though no fee for the
    service was authorized prier to September 1, 1981. We conclude that
    commissioners courts may se: such fees.

                                   SUMMARY

                 Commissioners c5urts may set fees for services
              performed by sheriffs and constables in accordance
              with article 3926z, V.T.C.S., even though no fee
              for the service ws authorized prior to September
              1, 1981.

                                         J /kVery truly yours

                                             JIM
                                                  A
                                                     MAT   TOX
                                             Attorney General of Texas

    TOM GREEN
    First Assistant Attorney General

    DAVID R. RICHARDS
    Executive Assistant Attorney General

    Prepared by Bruce Youngblocd
    Assistant Attorney General

                                         P. 845
Honorable Margfiret   Moore   -   Eage   4   (JM-193)

APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE

Rick Gilpin, Chairman
Colin Carl
Susan Garrison
Jim Moellinger
Nancy Sutton
Bruce Youngblood

                                             p. 846