Interim Senate Committee Charges After each legislative session, the standing committees are assigned issues to study during the interim. The committees will examine these issues, conduct public hearings, and prepare a report with legislative recommendations for the next session. The lieutenant governor assigns issues to the Senate committees, and the Speaker assigns issues … [Read more...] about Interim Senate Committee Charges
Jim Allison
Pretrial Intervention Program Fund
The Texas Attorney General has provided guidance on the proper use of the pretrial intervention program fund. Attorney General Opinion KP-0263 (2019) determined that the Commissioners Court must “ultimately decide how to expend the pretrial intervention program special fund.” Article 102.0121 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that a prosecutor may … [Read more...] about Pretrial Intervention Program Fund
Mandated Mental Health Jail Inmate Interviews and Reports
For several years, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas has supported legislative proposals to improve mental health programs. There have been some improvements in state funding. In 2010, Texas ranked 50th among the states in mental health funding; by 2017, we had improved to 40th. Nevertheless, county jails continue to hold more mentally ill persons than … [Read more...] about Mandated Mental Health Jail Inmate Interviews and Reports
86th Texas Legislature
County Judges and Commissioners will have the opportunity to actively exercise their role as partner to the State of Texas as the 86th Texas Legislature opens its 140-day session on Jan. 8.
The Texas Legislature meets in a regular session every two years, convening on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year. These biennial sessions are limited to 140 days. The governor is authorized to call additional special sessions as necessary, which cannot exceed 30 days. The 86th Texas Legislature is set to meet Jan. 8 through May 27. Texas legislators began … [Read more...] about 86th Texas Legislature
General Counsel’s Report
Expansion of Telemedicine Authorized Recent legislation authorizing expansion of telemedicine in Texas should enable counties to achieve significant cost reduction and improved services in jail health services and indigent health care. Senate Bill 1107, effective Jan. 1, 2018, removed prior restrictions and increased the availability of telehealth services. Previously, the … [Read more...] about General Counsel’s Report