86th Texas Legislature
Read more here: CJCATatheCapitol
South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Call for Scholarship Applications
South Scholarship Application
College scholarships in the amount $1,000 will be awarded to three applicants during the Annual Conference in San Antonio June 10-13, 2019.
To be eligible for scholarship consideration, applicants must be a child, grandchild, or under the legal guardianship of a current Judge or Commissioner. Each of the applicants must be a current resident of a county within the 63-member county region. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior for the class of 2019 or pursuing an undergraduate degree at a four-year university.
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:
- Personal resume
- Letters of reference (3)
- Official transcript
- Completed application form
The scholarship’s funds are not derived from tax dollars collected from member dues. Instead, funding comes from previous conference proceeds, not at taxpayer expense.
All entries are to be submitted to Scholarship Chairman Alma Moreno for Scholarship Committee consideration. All entries are to be received or postmarked by 5 p.m., May 24, 2019. Entries are to be sent to: Honorable Alma Moreno, County Commissioner, San Patricio County, 119 N. Atascosa, Mathis, TX 78368.
CJACT Annual State Conference Preview
County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas ConferenceOctober 8-11, 2018 • The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Hosted by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court
INFORMATIVE EDUCATION
The 2018 County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) State Conference will cover key issues affecting grassroots government, along with other important topics to assist with your daily operations as an elected official. The conference will kick off with a message from state officials, a legislative update from CJCAT General Counsel Jim Allison, and a panel of legislators who will discuss pressing county issues as we look toward the 86th Session of the Texas Legislature.
Approval for 17 hours of continuing education credit for County Commissioners is pending. This includes four hours of credit offered Wednesday afternoon in the Commissioners
Court Advanced Curriculum Session. The County Judges Education Advisory Committee has approved four hours of judicial education credit for the Tuesday afternoon Judicial
Education Session. County Judges may also obtain up to 16 hours of credit (non-judicial) toward Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum by attending designated sessions. Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Completion Certificates will be awarded during Thursday’s closing luncheon.
The conference educational co-sponsor is the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Educational sessions will be complemented by an array of social activities including the President’s Party and Exhibitor Appreciation Night, Host Court Night, and our popular tournaments, along with a slate of spouses’ activities, all designed to help you network and reconnect with your peers from across the state while forging new friendships.
CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Hotel & Convention Center
1601 Lake Robbins Dr.
281-367-9797
Room Rate: $185 per night
Hotel reservations may be made after registering for the conference online. The room reservation deadline is Sept. 14. Reservation cancellation must be made 72 hours prior to arrival. (If you need to cancel your room, be added to the waitlist, or would like information about an overflow hotel, please contact Rachel Kucera at rachelk@county.org or 800- 456-5974.)
REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY
The most convenient way to register for the conference is online at: www.county.org/member-services/educationand- training/calendar/Pages/2018-CJCA/Registration.aspx. You will receive a confirmation notification and invoice within 7 to 10 business days. You may also download the registration form at www.countyprogress.com and fax to 512-477-1324.
After Oct. 2, please register onsite at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Conference organizers will process payment and provide name badges and conference materials at that time.
To cancel your conference or hotel reservation, please email Rachel Kucera at rachelk@county.org or send a fax to 512-477- 1324; this will help move fellow attendees off the waitlist. We kindly request you do not post your reservation on the listserv as this hinders the waitlist management.
Registration cancellations must be in writing (fax acceptable) at least 72 hours prior to the conference to receive a refund, minus a $10 processing fee.
For more information, please contact the TAC Education Department at 800-456-5974 or email Michele Ewerz at michelee@county.org.
Please remember to bring a door prize.
Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court
All Regular, Special, Emergency and Executive Session Meetings of the __________ County Commissioners Court will be called and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code.
Regular, Special and Emergency Meetings of the _________ County Commissioners Court are open to the public and to representatives of the press and media. Executive Sessions of the Commissioners Court are not open to the public, the press or the media and only those individuals expressly requested or ordered to be present are allowed to attend Executive Sessions.
The ______________ County Commissioners Court meets in Regular Session on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. In order for a matter or issue to appear as an agenda item on the Agenda of any Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court, a request must be filed with and approved by at least one member of the Commissioners Court and/or the County Judge by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the Wednesday immediately preceding the next Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court.
The business of __________ County is conducted by and between the members of the ___________ County Commissioners Court and by those members of the county staff, elected officials, department heads, consultants, experts and/or members of the public requested to be present and participate. While the public is invited to attend all meetings of the Commissioners Court (except Executive Sessions) the public’s participation therein is limited to that of observees unless a member (or members) of the public is requested to address the Commissioners Court on a particular issue (or issues) or unless the member (or members) of the public completes a Public Participation Form and submits same to the county clerk prior to the time the agenda item (or items) is addressed by the Court. A sample of the _______________ County Commissioners Court Public Participation Form is attached hereto as Exhibit “A.”
Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners Court shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) minutes to make his/her remarks. Time for each speaker shall be maintained by the County Clerk or such other designated representative of the Commissioners Court.
Maximum discussion on any agenda item, regardless of the number of members of the public wishing to address the Commissioners Court on such agenda item (or items) shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. In the event that more than six (6) members of the public wish to address a particular agenda item (or items), then only the first six (6) members of the public recognized to speak shall be divided equally between those members of the public wishing to speak for the agenda item (or items) and those members of the public wishing to speak against the agenda item (or items).
In matters of exceptional interest, the Court may, by the majority vote of the members of the Court in attendance at the meeting, either shorten or lengthen the time allocated for a particular member of the public, all members of the public and/or the amount of time allocated for all agenda items and/or a specific agenda item.
It is the intention of the Court to provide an open access to the citizens of __________ County to address the Commissioners Court and to express themselves on issues of county government. Members of the public are reminded that the ________________ County Commissioners Court is a Constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers, created under Article V, Section 1 and Section 18 of the Texas Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the ______________ County Commissioners Court also possesses the power to issue a Contempt of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local Government Code. Accordingly, all members of the public in attendance at any Regular, Special and/or Emergency meeting of the Court shall conduct themselves with proper respect and decorum in speaking to, and/or addressing the Court; in participating in public discussions before the Court; and in all actions in the presence of the Court. Proper attire for men, women and children is mandatory. Those members of the public who are inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court’s order and/or continued disruption of the meeting may result in a Contempt of Court Citation.
It is not the intention of the ________________ County Commissioners Court to provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or group. Neither is it the intention of the Court to allow a member (or members) of the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity of the Court, as a body, or any member or members of the Court, individually or collectively. Accordingly, profane, insulting or threatening language directed toward the Court and/or any person in the Court’s presence and/or racial, ethnic, or gender slurs or epithets will not be tolerated. Violation of these rules may result in the following sanctions:
cancellation of a speaker’s remaining time;
removal from the Commissioners Courtroom;
a Contempt Citation; and/or
such other civil and/or criminal sanctions as may be authorized under the Constitution, Statutes and Codes of the State of Texas.
The County Judge is the presiding officer of the _____________ County Commissioners Court and is a fully participating member thereof. In the event of the absence of the County Judge, the senior member of the Commissioners Court (in terms of total number of years as an elected representative) present at the Regular, Special, Emergency meeting or Executive Session, shall serve as the Judge Pro-Tem of the Court. However, nothing herein shall prevent the senior member of this Commissioners Court from delegating this duty to another member of the Commissioners Court.
The County Judge (or the designated Judge Pro-Tem of the Commissioners Court), as presiding officer of the Commissioners Court, is responsible for conducting all meetings and members of the public who have properly completed a Public Participation Form and submitted same to the County Clerk must wait to be recognized before they will be allowed to address the Court.
Special rules for the press and media:
No media personnel or equipment, including lights, cameras or microphones will be located on the Commissioners Court bench nor closer than five (5′) feet in front of the Commissioners Court bench.
Reporters and media technicians are required to structure their movements, equipment setup and take-down and adjustments, etc., in such a manner as to not disrupt the Commissioners Court deliberations or the ability of the public to see, hear, and participate in the proceedings.
Interview shall not be conducted inside the Commissioners Courtroom during the time the Court is in session.
Media interviews which are conducted outside the Commissioners Courtroom should be conducted in such a manner that the interview does not disturb, impede or disrupt the proceedings of any regular, special, or emergency and/or executive session of the court.
The Sheriff of ______________ County, Texas, or his designated deputy, shall serve as the bailiff at all regular, special, and emergency meetings of the Court. However, in the event of the absence of the sheriff, or in the event that there exists a conflict of interest between the sheriff, any member of the sheriff’s department, and the Commissioners Court, or in the event of an Executive session of the Court in which the Sheriff is not an authorized participant, then in such event, the Court shall appoint such other commissioned peace officers to serve as bailiff as may be necessary.
From time to time, the Commissioners Court shall conduct town meetings and public hearings. These rules of procedure, conduct and decorum shall also apply to such town meetings and public hearings; however, the Commissioners Court may adopt such additional and supplemental rules for such meetings as may be necessary and appropriate to conduct such meetings in an orderly, efficient and proper manner.
These Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the _____________ County Commissioners Court shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Court and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Commissioners Court.
Highlights From Galveston County
By Julie Anderson
Editor
“Counties of Texas: Locally Strong”
The theme of the 94th Annual County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Conference could not have come at a more important time considering the upcoming legislative session. In fact, the opening day of the Oct. 10-13 conference saw members of the Texas Legislature issuing words of caution to some 200 officials gathered in Galveston County’s Moody Gardens.
Sen. Sylvia R. Garcia, a former Harris County Commissioner, told officials she “has never before seen” such a predisposition against local control among state lawmakers and urged the audience to organize, engage and “make sure you are heard.”
This is where “County Strong” comes in.
Strength in Numbers
- 254 Counties
- 1,270 County Judges and County Commissioners
While no one denies the diversity of the Lone Star State, members of Texas County Commissioners Courts face common challenges, several of which have the potential to impact every budget in every county including appraisal caps and revenue caps. In the months leading up to the 85th Legislature, a third issue has been deemed crucial – the burgeoning costs of indigent defense.
Lest officials doubt their collective influence on state lawmakers, let’s glance backward some six years ago leading up to the 2011 Legislative Session; experts predicted the Session would be defined by two issues: redistricting and the state budget deficit, and they were right. Because of the $20 billion-plus deficit, “we will be bombarded with all types of unfunded mandates,” predicted then-CJCAT Second Vice President Roger Harmon, Johnson County Judge. “All I can say is to batten down the hatches and be willing to fight like we have never had to in the past.”
County Judges and County Commissioners tag-teamed one another, accompanying CJCAT officers and general counsel Jim Allison to the Capitol to present a united message. Facing cut after cut, local elected officials showed up both literally and figuratively, sending emails and faxes, making phone calls, and putting in personal appearances to safeguard their county, their community, and their taxpayers.
When the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature adjourned sine die, Commissioners Courts breathed a collective sigh of relief, as the adopted version of the state budget partially restored funding to most county programs. In addition, revenue caps and most unfunded mandates were defeated.
When the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature adjourns, officials are hoping for the same thing. As part of the necessary prep work, the CJCAT leadership team is being proactive and asking counties to consider the local passage of resolutions addressing the trio of issues: unfunded mandates, appraisal and revenue caps and indigent defense. The Association passed a total of 23 resolutions, listed on pages 29-34 of this issue; unfunded mandates, appraisal and revenue caps and indigent defense are numbers 4, 5 and 8, respectively.
Once again, it’s a matter of strength in numbers: 254 Texas Counties, 31 State Senators, 150 State Representatives. Every Senator and Representative receives a copy of the State Association Resolutions, Allison confirmed. If every Texas county also passes local resolutions and sends them to their lawmakers, the message is that much stronger.
“Your communication is vitally important,” Allison emphasized. “Use these resolutions as the beginning of your conversation with your members.”
County Strong: Strength in Study
This year’s Association conference offered 17 hours of continuing education credit for County Commissioners and four hours of judicial education for County Judges, with topics spanning key issues from juvenile law, records management, public information act requests and leadership to working with the Legislature, road workplace safety and personnel policy. The program included Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum modules, allowing for dozens of officials to work toward or achieve their Advanced Curriculum Certification (see page 24).
In 2014, the CJCAT, in partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s V.G. Young Institute of County Government, launched the County Improvement Project, a fellowship program meant to stimulate ideas and encourage thoughtful answers to shared challenges. The 2014 Fellowship was awarded to Dr. Morgan Russell, assistant professor of Rangeland Ecology with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at the Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. Russell’s presentation, titled “Texas Fire Exchange,” focused on wildfires and prescribed burns. The 2015 Fellowship went to Mike Yawn, who opened this year’s conference with his presentation “Developing a Social Media Program for Local Government: What You Need to Know” (see opposite page).
Bonus Activities
While the mission of the conference was educational, a variety of other special events allowed participants and guests to discuss common issues and forge friendships among their peers from across the state. Host Court Night took place in the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramids where participants enjoyed a delicious buffet and took in 3D and 4D Theater features. The Spouses’ Program offered a culinary adventure topped by poolside relaxation. Golfers enjoyed beautiful weather during the Bobby Smith Memorial Golf Tournament, and fishermen reeled in some hefty catches while out on the Gulf. Friendly rivalry was in full swing at the shuffleboard showdown and traditional domino tournament.
The conference closed with the Installation Banquet, where the membership applauded outgoing President Grover “Tiger” Worsham, Trinity County Commissioner, for his years of dedication and service and welcomed incoming President Woodrow W. “Woody” Gossom Jr., Wichita County Judge.
The 95th Annual County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Conference will take place Sept. 25-28, 2017, in Corpus Christi-Nueces County. Please see the County Progress Conference Calendar on page 61 for additional details.
Editor’s Note: Many of the State Conference presentations are available at http://www.county.org/member-services/education-and-training/presentations/Pages/2016-CJCA.aspx.
