What is the role of the Texas Attorney General regarding Open Meetings Act issues?
The Attorney General may issue an official opinion answering questions about the legal meaning of the Open Meetings Act if the opinion is requested by an authorized official such as the Governor, the chair of a state legislative committee, or a district or county attorney.(150) City officials generally work through their district or county attorney or a state legislator to request an attorney general opinion. The Attorney General can only make conclusions about the legal meaning of a law. The Office of the Attorney General does not rule on the facts of a specific case.(151) Thus, in most cases the Attorney General cannot rule as to whether a specific person violated the Open Meetings Act on a specific occasion if it requires a determination of the applicable facts.(152) It should be noted that the Attorney General does not have enforcement authority with regard to the Open Meetings Act. The prosecution of criminal violations of the Act remains within the discretion and authority of the
