Youhaveaskedtwoquestionsamemingthea&ninistrationofthe ~YouthQuncil's~fordependentandnsglectedchildren. Your questions are:

(1) Mayhouseparentsheenployedonalive-in hasis witbut violating article 5159d, V.T.C.S.?

(2) May the TexasYouthCouncil contjnue tooffer educationalsl?rvices,includinglmusingandmeals, onavoluntarybasis toresidentsof thehmzswhc have reached ths age of eighteen (1811 Youhaveinfoxm&usthatthehousepa?xntsinvolm?dwnlldhe umrrisd couples and Would be paid not less than $7,560.00 per person par snnun. Article 5159d reqires a nCn.imn wage of $1.40 per hour subject to certain exceptions. Secticm 4(b) (3) exempts ",y person wloyed in a . . .professional capacity." We neednotd&emue*theror inwhat circunstancesahouseparent~dbewithinthis~m,forunder ths infomationyouhave suppliedtous it is clear that article 5159d, assuningits applicability, wouldmtpmhibit this eqloymnt. A salary of $7,560.00 per annun is roughly equivalent to $145.00 per week. Thus, suchaneroplayeecouldbe~~toworkalmost104 imursper week withxt any violation of article 5159d. You have informed us that ~the~parentswillprabablywork55to6Ohoursperweekandwill therefore receivemre than themininunwage. It may also be noted that sections 5(c) and 5(d) are applicable.

'Ibe Honorable Ikm Jackson - page tm (H.- 748)

Your secondguestionishhetherthe Texas YouthCouucilmayam- tinue tooffereducationalservices, inclwlinghousing andmeals, to residents of the l-mes when they reach 18 years of age. Article 5143d, section 9a, V.T.C.S. provides:

Subject to such policies as the Texas Youth Councilmayadopt,theCorsicanaStateliane, theWestlkxasChil&en'sRcmat Pyote, and the Waco Stats l-km2 may accept for amnission any child betmen the ages of three (3) years and eighteen (18) years whc is a full orphan, ahalf-omhan.ora demndentaudneclscted child, and may offer, if needed, car& treatment, education,andtrainiug,tosuchchildrenasare admitted thereto until they ha reached the age of +zwenty-ona (21) years. (&zaSlS added) In our view, this article clearly authorizes the provision of care audaducationon avoluntarybasis tc residents of thehams*have reached ths age of 18 b.xt not 21. WetelievetheLegislature iutended to specify thatotherpersons, at the discretionof theYouthCouncil, would amtinue tcbe qualified for these benefits witbutregard to theirlegalinfancy or adult status. Attorney General @inion H-585 (1975). canpare Attorney General C&ion H-83 (1973).

SUMMARY UnderthestatedfactstheTexasYouth Cbuncilmay~loyhouseparentsonalive-in basis without violating article 5159d.

TheYouthCcuncilmyamtinue tooffer educatimlalservicesandcare,includingmsals andlxmsing, on amluutarybasis to residents ofl-uaes fordepemkntamdneglectedpersons andorphansaftertheyreachl8yearsofage anduntiltheyreach21yearsofage.

AttorneyGeneral of lkxas *3 . The Homrable F&m Jackson - page three (H-748)