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Texas Health & Safety Code - Section 121.003. Powers Of Municipalities And Counties

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Health & Safety Code > Texas Health & Safety Code - Section 121.003. Powers Of Municipalities And Counties

§ 121.003. POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES.  (a) 
The governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a 
county may enforce any law that is reasonably necessary to protect 
the public health.
	(b)  The governing bodies of municipalities and the 
commissioners courts of counties may cooperate with one another in 
making necessary improvements and providing services to promote the 
public health in accordance with The Interlocal Cooperation Act 
(Article 4413(32c), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
	(c)  The commissioners court of a county may grant authority 
under this subsection to a county employee who is trained by a 
health authority appointed by the county under Section 121.021, by 
a local health department established under Section 121.031, or by 
a public health district established under Section 121.041 and who 
is not a peace officer.  The court may grant to the employee the 
power to issue a citation in an unincorporated area of the county to 
enforce any law or order of the commissioners court that is 
reasonably necessary to protect the public health.  A citation 
issued under this subsection must state the name of the person 
cited, the violation charged, and the time and place the person is 
required to appear in court.  If a person who receives a citation 
under this subsection fails to appear on the return date of the 
citation, the court may issue a warrant for the person's arrest for 
the violation described in the citation.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended 
by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 562, § 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991.

Last modified: August 10, 2007