Regulation by a State Agency
In Texas, the office of the Attorney General regulates the state’s child support cases, consumer protection, crime victim services, criminal justice, and Texas-Mexico border issues. The Attorney General is the lawyer for the people of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas, represent the State in litigation, and approve public bond issues. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies and other officials and agencies as provided by Texas statutes, sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions, and defends challenges to state laws and suits against both state agencies and individual employees of the State. ... In addition to its constitutionally prescribed duties, the Office of the Attorney General files civil suits upon referral by other state agencies. ... Actions that benefit all citizens of this state include enforcement of health, safety and consumer regulations; educational outreach programs and protection of the rights of the elderly and disabled. ... The Division drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts on behalf of the agency, coordinates the approval process for outside counsel contracts for all state agencies, and consults with and advises state agencies on contract matters, especially high-tech contract issues. The General Counsel Division provides informal advice, orally and in writing, outside of the opinion process, to legislators, other state officers and agencies, and to quasi-state agencies, and offers assistance in rule making and other matters.