* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:06]
          COURT OFFICES, IT IS 10 A.M. AND WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR FIRST DAY OF BUDGET HEARINGS FOR HARRIS COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2027. 
          I'M TRACY BUTRUM AND TODAY I WILL SERVE AS YOUR TIME KEEPER AND MEETING FACILITATOR. I WANT TO WELCOME OUR HOST, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ERIC LEE CARTER AND DANIEL RAMIREZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE MANAGER AND BUDGET. 
          HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS FOR TODAY IN TERMS OF FORMAT, WE HAVE 10 PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND EACH WILL BE ALLOCATED 30 MINUTES. 
          EACH DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION FOR 5 MINUTES OF INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO EITHER SPLIT THOSE REMARKS FOR 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTION FOR CLOSING OR TAKE ALL 5 AT THE TOP AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHICH ONE IN ADVANCE THEY WILL HAVE SELECTED EACH COURT OFFICE HAS FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS AND THEY WILL ROTATE INERED BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST PRESENTATION ON THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE AND GOING FROM THERE. 
          IF YOU HAVE ANY TIME REMAINING YOU MAY RESERVE THAT TIME AND WE'LL DO A SECOND PASS IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR QUESTIONS, YOU MAY RELEASE THAT TIME OR DONATE THAT TIME TO ANOTHER 
          [Office of County Administration]
COURT OFFICE AT YOUR DISCRETION WITH THAT WE WILL BEGIN WITH FIRST PRESENTATION FROM OFFICE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND MY 
          BOSS ERICA LEE CARTER. >> THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. I'M ERICA LEE CARTER AND IT IS MY HONOR TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS TO DELIVER THEIR POLICIES AND DIRECTIVES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY. IF YOU HAVE ANY SLIDES ON SLIDE 2 I WILL TO LEVEL SET ON HOW WE GOT TO OUR CLSS THIS YEAR AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A BALANCE BUDGET OCA TOOK OFFSET OF 2.9 MILLION AND THIS CAUSED US TO ELIMINATE FILLED POSITIONS INCLUDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS AND TWO FROM DATA ANALYTICS TEAM. I WOULD NOTE THIS HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING THIS FISCAL YEAR WHICH WE CONTINUE TO GET NEW PROJECTS AND DIRECTIVES WHICH WE WORK TO DELIVER BUT WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO CREATE GROUPS AND TEAMS TO DELIVER ON A BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THIS YEAR WE SUBMITTED 7%. 
          SO SLIDE THREE SHOWS AND I WILL WALK THROUGH ON SLIDE 7 WE HAVE HAD THE MOST VARIATION IN OUR ADOPTED BUDGET BECAUSE WE'VE OFTEN HOUSED OTHER FUNDS THAT WE THEN TRANSFERRED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND YOU'LL NOTICE ABOUT 16 GRANTS AND FLEX MONEY WHICH IS OUR OPPORTUNITY SQUEEN AND KEY PROVIDERS AND PRESSURES INCLUDE RETAINING THAT TEAM TO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE OUR PROGRAM AND THE INCREASE IN DATA REQUESTS ESPECIALLY FROM JUSTICE OF SAFETY STAKEHOLDERS THAT DON'T HAVE DATA AND ANALYTICS TEAM AND, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON STRATEGIC PLAN AND INCREASE OVERSIGHT OF OCA REPORTING DEPARTMENTS TO ACHIEVE YOUR COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGES GOALS. 
          ON SLIDE FOUR STATUTORY DUTIES INCLUDING EXECUTING COMMISSIONER COURT AGENDA AND MAKING SURE ALL ITEMS ARE CORRECT AND 25 MEETINGS IN COUNTING AND BUSINESS COURT AND 5600 ITEMS SO FAR THIS YEAR. AS CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER WE PATTERN WITH O AND D. WE REVIEW FISCAL REVIEW FORMS AND SUPPLEMENTS AND WE COORDINATE ON THAT. 
          SLIDE FIVE STRATEGIC PLAN AS YOU KNOW DPMS AND TRACKING ALL MEASUREMENTS TO PROGRESS TO GROLS OUR TEAM IS IN THE CENTER WHETHER IT'S THE DASH BORDER OR TRACKING OUR COURT BACKLOGS AND MAINTAINING OUR REDUCING JAIL POPULATION THEY PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE AND HELP WITH THE CO-CHAIRS. 
          SLIDE 6 AGAIN IS ARPA, 94% HAS BEEN SPENT AND DELIVERED BUT IT IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THERE WILL BE LOTS OF ONGOING COMPLIANCE ALL THE WAY THROUGH FY27 I'M SEEKING TO RETAIN THE TEAM TO COMPLETE. OUR GRANTS SEEN SEPARATE FROM ARPA HAS SECURED 315 MILLION DOLLARS IN AWARDS AND INCLUDE IN COUNTY THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE. SLIDE 7 I WANT TO WALK THROUGH YOU'LL NOTE OUR DIFFERENCES IN ADOPTED FROM THE WIDE VARIATION SPECIFICALLY LAST YEAR WE DEPLOYED A LOT OF SECURITY FUNDS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO THE FIRE MARSHALL BUILDING SECURED AND WE SPLOIED LARGE FUND TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND A LOT OF THINGS WE HOUSE INCLUDING O'DONNELL ARE VERY RESTRICTIVE AND 17% OF THE DIFFERENCE WAS THE OFFSET WE TOOK LAST FISCAL YEAR. 
          SO IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR, I THINK I JUST LOST MY SLIDE 
          [00:05:04]
NUMBER. ON OUR OFFSETS, I WILL NOTE I DID PUT SOME VACANCIES NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USEFUL, THE TEAM DID HOLD HIRING WHEN THEY KNEW INCOMING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD COME ONLINE. AND SO THERE'S ONE FROM GRANTS AND ONE FROM OUR AGENDA OPERATIONS TEAM. 
          I COULD NOT ACHIEVE THE GOAL WITHOUT SUBMITTING SOME FILLED POSITIONS BECAUSE WE ARE VERY LEAN AT OCA I DID HAVE TO SUBMIT TWO OF THOSE AND I DID SUBMIT RECLASSIFICATIONS WHICH WOULD BE EASIER TO MANAGE IF NEEDED. IN TERMS OF OUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS WE SUBMITTED THREE. 
          AGAIN, OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE TEAM LAID SOME OF OUR BIGGEST PROJECTS ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS AND WE ARE A SUPPORTING CHARTER MEMBER OF THAT PROJECT PROCURE TO PAY AND WE WERE LEADING CHARTER MEMBER OF THAT COUNTY WIDE INITIATIVE. WE ARE ALSO RIGHT NOW LEADING THE QUICK WINS OPS SECUREMENT PROJECT AND CONTINUES TO HAVE COUNTY-WIDE PROJECTS THEY MUST DELIVER. 
          THE DATA SYSTEMS ENGINEER WOULD ACTUALLY BE TO REBUILD CAPACITY AS A LOSS TO TEAM MEMBERS LAST YEAR. 
          THIS COURT HAS FOCUSED ON DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING AND WE WANT TO CONSTANTLY BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE LATEST AND GREATEST DATA TO YOUR MEMBERS. LASTLY WHILE IT IS CALLED TRAVEL AND TRAINING IT'S NOT FOR US TO JAUNT OUT OF STATE BUT THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED A DIVERSE BUCKET. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR CARTER WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COURT OFFICES BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. 
          >> OKAY. HOW HAS THE ELIMINATION OF THE DEDICATED RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS TEAM IN FISCAL YEAR 26 AND INCREASING NUMBER OF COURT DIRECTIVES IMPACTED CURRENT 
          STAFF IN THEIR CAPACITY? >> SURE. 
          IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING TO ADDRESS NEW DIRECTIVES OR LONGER STANDING PROJECTS. OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE VERY TALENTED GROUP WITH HIGHLY TECHNICAL SKILLS AND RESEARCH POLICY. AND SO WHEN WE RECEIVED NEW DIRECTIVES I NOW HAVE TO CREATE AD HOC GROUPS, PULL PEOPLE FROM OTHER PROJECTS OR EXTEND TIMELINES FOR PROJECTS THAT MAY BE THE COURT IS NOT ASKING FOR AS QUICKLY TO MAYBE DELIVER SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE SET A QUICKER DEADLINE OR AS SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN I TRY TO NEGOTIATE THE DEADLINE BASED ON CAPACITY BECAUSE WHEN WE GET A NEW DIRECTIVE PEOPLE ARE NOT THINKING OF ALL THE DIRECTIVES WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE PIPELINE SO I TRY TO DO MY BEST NOW TO CONVEY THAT BUT IT IS NOT BEEN 
          EASIEST TO DEAL WITH. >> OKAY. 
          THE REQUEST FOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER TWO IS DESCRIBED AS RESTORING TECHNICAL CAPACITY LOST IN PREVIOUS CUTS CAN YOU PROVIDE SPECIFICS OF DATA BACKLOGS OR DEAS ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY STALLED DUE TO THE LACK OF THIS POSITION. 
          >> I DON'T THINK MY DATA TEAM WOULD LIKE ME TO SAY STALLED BECAUSE THEY WORK VERY HARD IF YOU LOOK AT COMP TIME THEY ARE MAXING OUT TO STAY ON TOP OF VERY CRITICAL DASHBOARDS. 
          I DO THINK WHAT GETS SLOWER IS THE DATA GOVERNANCE APPROVAL PROCESS WHICH IS A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS THAT FEEDS INTO OUR JDAK CORK AND OTHER WORK. THEY ARE FUNNELING SOURCES. 
          THEY ARE REVIEWING WHAT IS ALLOWED TO BE PUT OUT WHETHER IT'S TO JMI OR SOME OTHER GROUP THAT NEEDS IT SO THAT PROCESS IS A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THEY WOULD LIKE BUT THEY WORK EXTRA EXTRA HARD BUT AT SOME POINT YOUR RETENTION AND BURN OUT LEVEL IS 
          AT RISK DUE TO THAT. >> COULD ANY OF THIS BE ABSORBED 
          BY OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS? >> THEY ARE AN EXPERT IN THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE MANAGED THE ENTIRE TIME SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT IT COULD NEVER BE ABSORBED BY A COUNTY DEPARTMENT. 
          IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT. >> NEXT QUESTION, IS CS -- AND A PROJECT PROCRAM MANAGER FOR IF I THRAN THROW -- FLAN TREU PEA. 
          HOW WILL THE COUNTY RECOUP THE LOSS IN FUTURE FUNDING THAT THESE SPECIALIZED ROLES WOULD HAVE SECURED. 
          >> I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL RECOUP BUT I WILL SAY THERE ARE 
          [00:10:05]
GRANTS STAFF IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO WE AREN'T THE SOLE DEPARTMENT THAT WRITES GRANTS AND THEY DO HAVE EXPERTISE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO OUR BEST WITH THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS HAVE DONE. 
          WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. WE WILL NOT SHUT DOWN. 
          ALL I WILL SAY IS IT COULD ALSO BE MORE AND WE DO WANT TO I KNOW YOUR LEADERS WANT US TO DELIVER FOR STATE GRANT. 
          IT COMES THROUGH ALL NONPROFITS BUT WE'RE HOPING TO POTENTIALLY BUILD THAT CAPACITY, THAT WOULD JUST HAVE TO BE A CONVERSATION 
          WHEN THAT BECAME AVAILABLE. >> THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS PROVIDED FROM OCA NOTES 887,000 IN OFFSETS REQUIRE OPERATIONAL TRADEOFFS CAN YOU RANK WHICH CORE FUNCTIONS, AGENDA OPERATIONS, GRANTS OR POLICY IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE MOST COMPROMISED IF THESE OFFSETS ARE FULLY ENACTED? 
          >> 'CAUSE AGENDA IS STATUTORY I WOULD ALWAYS RANK THAT AS NUMBER ONE. WE HAVE TO DELIVER, WE HAVE TO MEET THE OPEN MEETINGS AT DEADLINES PER STATE LAW AND SO YOU KNOW THE TEAM THEY WORK ALL KINDS OF HOLIDAYS TO ENSURE THEY DELIVER DEPENDING ON WHICH THE COURT SETS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETINGS SOMETIMES MEMBERS HAVE EMERGENCY ITEMS AND THEY HAVE TO REOPEN THE AGENDA SO THAT IS THE ONE THAT I WOULD MOST PRIORITIZE. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE YOU SAID, BUT I WOULD PUT GRANTS IN SECOND. 
          WHAT WAS THE THIRD. >> POLICY IMPLEMENTATION. 
          >> OH, I'M SORRY. OKAY. 
          SORRY THEN I WOULD RERANK IT. AGENDA, I WOULD PUT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE, OF COURSE, EVERY REGULAR COURT YOU MIGHT RECEIVE A NEW POLICY DIRECTIVE. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE. 
          UP NEXT ARE QUESTION FROM PRECINCT 1, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE COVERED A FEW OF MY QUESTIONS SO I WILL JUST JUMP INTO ANOTHER QUESTION. 
          COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH THE PROPOSED SERVICE ENHANCEMENT FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WHICH DIVISION OR DIVISIONS WOULD MOST BENEFIT 
          FROM PUBLIC SUPPORT. >> SURE, WHAT I HAD STARTED TO SAY IS WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER I REALIZED THAT WAS THE ONLY CATEGORY THAT HAD THE MOST FLEXIBLE FUNDS FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT ACTUALLY AREN'T JUST PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS WHAT THAT SEEMS TO SUGGEST AND THAT INCLUDES CONVENING MEETINGS AND WE GET TASK AND I'M NOW CO-CHAIR OF RELIANT PARK AND I WILL HAVE TO CONVENE MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND WE MAY ENGAGE STATE CONSULTANTS, ET CETERA. 
          SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS WE OBVIOUSLY TRY TO DO IT AS LOW COST OR NO COST AS POSSIBLE BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE. SO THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THAT FUND SOME OF OUR COUNTY-WIDE AND WE ALSO SUPPORT SMALLER DEPARTMENTS THAT WISELY YOU ALL THEY DON'T NEED MAYBE A FULL TIME KCOMMS STAFF OR ENGAGEMENT OW BE YOU THEY MAY RISE IN MEETING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OCA HELPS SUPPORT AND SECURITY ON THAT AND EXAMPLE WOULD BE EARLY CHILDHOOD MOTIONS THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE ON AND WE'RE LOSING SOME ARPA CAPACITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD BUT WE STILL NEED TO HELP DELIVER ON THOSE MOTIONS AND DIRECTIVES SO THIS WOULD BE FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO 
          POTENTIALLY ALLOW FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. 
          AND WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST FOR THE SYSTEMS ENGINEER CAN YOU SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AROUND SOME OF THE TEAM'S PUBLISHED PROJECTS? 
          >> I MAY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE COME DOWN HERE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I THINK WE HAVE OVER -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY HOW MANY OVER BUT WE HAVE OVER 20 DASHBOARDS THAT THEY NOT ONLY MAKE SURE THEY ARE UPDATED WHICH MAY SEEM -- YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE SOME OF IT AUTOMATED BUT SOME OF IT THEY HAVE TO CHECK AND V VERIFY. AND WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS. THEY WORK ON NEW PROJECTS THEY HAVE EXCITING PROJECT AND I THINK I'LL HAVE DR. ROY. 
          >> SURE. THANK YOU, MY NAME IS ADRIAN ROY AND I'M WITH OCA AND THE PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARDS AND DATA ITEMS WE PROVIDE INCLUDE A LARGE BODY OF WORK AROUND O'DONNELL. 
          WHICH SUPPORTS MULTIPLE DASHBOARDS ON BONDS AND CRITICAL IT ITEMS, CRITICAL ITEMS THAT WERE 
          [00:15:05]
OUTLINED IN THE CONSENT DEGREE WHICH WE ARE STILL UNDER THE OTHER PUBLIC FACING WORK THAT WE ARE -- IT IS QUASI PUBLIC FACING WE'RE ALSO BUILDING THE KPIS FOR THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. 
          OTHER THAN THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE INTERNAL DASHBOARDS THAT ARE NOT FULLY PUBLIC FACING BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THOSE DASHBOARDS HOWEVER THEY DO SUPPORT MULTIPLE POLICY DECISION THAT IS ARE THEN 
          PUBLIC FACING. >> THANK YOU. 
          I WILL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. 
          PRECINCT TWO. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          SO JUST ONE OF THE OFFSETS IS ELIMINATION OF THE POLICY MANAGEMENT POSITION THAT'S NOT A CURRENTLY FILLED POSITION, 
          CORRECT. >> THAT IS A FILLED POSITION. 
          >> THAT IS ONE OF THE FILLED POSITIONS. 
          >> YES. >> OKAY. 
          YOU KNOW POLICY MEANS DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT OFFICES CAN YOU KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE POLICY DIVISION DOES UNDER OCA AND WHIF YOU COULD DELIVER SOME 
          EXAMPLES WOULD BE GREAT. >> SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SEPARATE POLICY DIVISION WE HAVE POLICY STAFF IN OUR JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM, POLICY STAFF UNDER ALEX T MANAGER DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PERFORMANCE AND THAT INCLUDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM SO I'LL START THAT SIDE AND I MENTIONED THE ERP TRANSFORMATION AND WE ARE ON MANY COUNTY-WIDE PROJECTS AND THEY NOT ONLY ATTEND BUT ADHERE TO THE TIMELINES AND ENSURE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS ARE ENGAGING AND PROVIDING THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR PAY AND PROMPT PAY AND MANY OTHERS AND THEN STRATEGIC PLAN I WOULD SAY POLICY STAFF RELATED TO THAT INVOLVED IN CONVENING AND FOLLOW-UP AND ENGAGING WITH DEPARTMENTS WHETHER THROUGH DPMS, GOAL AREA COMMITTEES OR VARIOUS WORK GROUPS THAT THE COURT HAS GO CREATED ACROSS THE COUNTY. JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM THEY ALSO HAVE POLICY, STAFF EVEN IF YOU THINK OF O'DONNELL THOSE ARE IDEAS ON HOW TO DIVERT, REDUCING TO HELP WITH THE BACKLOG IF YOU THINK OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND POLICY STAFF AND 7, 8 WORK GROUPS ENGAGING IN POLICY IDEAS FOR THAT SYSTEM CONVENING ALL OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS AND WE ALSO DEVELOP TO THAT COMMITTEE THOSE ARE THE BROADEST EXAMPLES. 
          >>  COULD YOU ELABORATE ON ANY OF THAT AND ALSO THE FLAN THROPY POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED FOR A WHILE WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE OFFICE -- SUCCESSES OF THE 
          OFFICE SO FAR. >> TOOK A WHILE TO TRACK DOWN BUT THE COUNTY RULED THAT AS OCA COUNTY GRANTS AND WE CANNOT ACTIVELY PURSUE PRIVATE IF I THAN TRHROPY. 
          YOU ALL, MOST OF YOUR COURT MEMBERS HAVE INDEPENDENT NONPROFITS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE PRIVATE DOLLARS WE REANT RECENTLY SUBMITTED A MEMO FOR PROPOSAL THERE IS AN OPTION THAT COULD GET TO THAT BUT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY APPROVAL  -- APPROVED BY COURT. WE DO GET OUTREACH BY PRIVATE DONORS WHO WANT TO GIVE AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN THOSE MEETINGS AND ABLE TO CONNECT THEM TO THE RELEVANT PARTNER DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED SOME PRIVATE FUNDING AND ACHIEVED GRANTS LIKE MCARTHUR FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM AND THE EN ENDOWMENT ON LANGUAGE ACCESS BUT AGAIN IT IS THE ACTIVE PUSH THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO. 
          >> I THINK I'M GOING TO RESERVE THE REMAINING MINUTE AND A HALF. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          SOME OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REAL QUICKLY, COULD YOU TELL US HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET IS STATUTORY VERSES N 
          NONSTATUTORY. >> I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU A SPECIFIC MEMBER. I CONSIDER -- SPECIFIC MEMBER I CONSIDER ARPA STATUTORY BECAUSE OF FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AND WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ON FEDERAL COMPLIANCE I CONSIDER AGENDA AND OPERATIONS STATUTORY. IF YOU EXCLUDE EVERYTHING THAT'S 
          [00:20:01]
A COURT DIRECTIVE I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER BUT I DON'T HAVE IT 
          OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> AND THEN WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BUDGET IMPACT WILL BE OF MOVING THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY OUT FROM UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA. 
          >> SO RIGHT NOW THE 12 MILLION YOU'RE SEEING INCLUDES OFFICE IT'S A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE NOT SUBMITTING THAT AS OUR OFFSET AT ALL THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S A LATERAL IT'S STILL GENERAL FUNDS ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE THREE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS THAT THEY WOULD RETAIN THOSE GRANTS AS IS BUT WE'RE NOT 
          SUBMITTING THAT AS OUR OFFSET. >> I GUESS I'LL JUST WHATEVER 
          COURT OFFICE NEEDS TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE FOUR MINUTES. 
          >> WE WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE CEDING OUR 5 MINUTES. 
          COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU I'M AMAZED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF CHANGE MAKING TOGETHER THAT WE STILL LOOK JUST AS WE DID 20 YEARS AGO AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT AND THRILLED YOU ARE STILL IN ARENA AND WE GET TO SEE YOU LEAD IN THIS VERY INNOVATIVE WAY SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE AND WE'RE EXCITING TO PARTNER WITH YOU. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT. BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED COUNTY-WIDE IS THAT IT'S AN AREA WE STRUGGLE WITH AND I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AND I REMEMBER LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET PROCESS DEPARTMENT HEADS WOULD SAY I NEED THIS MANY PCNS AND THIS MUCH MONEY AND A LOT OFS ASK AND I WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE TO TRULY GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE. KPOS, YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE. 
          SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DEPARTMENTS REPORT UP TO OCA WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW WITH PERFORMANCE EVALUATION GETTING THE MAXIMUM FROM THEM AND WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN 
          THE FUTURE? >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR -- ALWAYS GET A QUESTION I'M NOT PLANNING FOR BUT I DO HAVE AN ANSWER. 
          THAT IS WHY I PROPOSED THE HRT TRANSFORMATION OF HAVING OCA REPORTING DEPARTMENTS, HR PERSONNEL, MORE CENTRALIZED AT LEAST A CENTRALIZED LEAD TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE BEING EXECUTED ARE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA SO WHAT I WOULD SAY I WOULD CALL IT A HODGEPODGE SOME HAVE VERY DEVELOPED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND I KNOW AT OCA WE IMPLEMENT IT WELL AND WE DID A MID YEAR AND WE'LL DO AN END OF THE YEAR AND SOME MAY ONLY DO END OF THE YEAR AND ONE DEPARTMENT HEAD HAS A WHOLE MANAGEMENT TRAINING SIX WEEK PROGRAM AND SHE HAS COHORTS AND THEY DO IT IN HOUSE AND THAT IS NOT CERTAINLY COUNTY WIDE AND THAT'S PART OF MY VISION AND HAPPY TO SHARE WITH ANY DEPARTMENT INTERESTED THAT WE HAVE MORE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND MEASURES SO THAT ALSO WHEN YOU MOVE DEPARTMENTS YOU TAKE YOUR PORTFOLIO WITH YOU AND YOU'RE GOING WITHIN THE COUNTY NOT JUST WITHIN ONE DEPARTMENT. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. 
          THAT MOVE. ALSO I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY. YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT BUT I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS SO I THINK THERE ARE MORE MAYBE COMMS TEAMS THAT REPORT UP TO OCA DO YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAM LAINE COMMS OR OTHER AREAS WHERE WE CAN FIND SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES. 
          >> YEAH, I THINK THAT IS ONE POSSIBLE AREA. 
          I KNOW THERE'S CERTAIN MES MESSAGING, UNIQUE FEATURES OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHAT I'VE NOW SEEN AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WE GET REQUESTS WHAT IS THE COURT'S PERSPECTIVE AND IF THERE'S NOTHING DOCUMENTED YOU KNOW I USUALLY HAVE TO DEFER BUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO GET THAT AND WHERE IS THE COORDINATED RESPONSE THEY UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHERE THE KOWNTY IS SAYING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH ABOUT FRINSICES AND ABOUT THIS AND THAT. YES. 
          >> LAST QUESTION FROM ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT YOU'RE FACING IN THE COMING YEAR FROM A BUDGETARY 
          PERSPECTIVE? >> WELL, DEPENDS ON THE FULL OUTCOME OF THE OFFSETS I'VE PROPOSED BUT CERTAINLY LIMITED ABILITY TO ADAPT TO NEW COURT DIRECTIVES WHICH I PRESUME WILL CONTINUE. WE WILL GET A NEW COUNTY JUDGE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THAT PERSON MAY HAVE IDEAS AND THINGS THEY WANT TO SEE EXECUTED AND SO WILL I HAVE THE TEAM TO SWING WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING TIMELINES ON ALREADY PROCEEDING DIRECTIVES 
          AND PRIORITIES OF THE COURT. >> GREAT ANSWER. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO DRIVE FORWARDS PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY. 
          WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. WE WILL NOW GO BACK THROUGH FOR A SECOND ROUND. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU HAVE NO TIME REMAINING. PRECINCT ONE YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE 
          [00:25:02]
          AND 22 SECONDS REMAINING. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IF ANYONE WANTS TO GIVE ONE 
          MINUTE TO ME, I'LL TAKE IT. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE, 
          PRECINCT TWO YOU HAVE 1:  33. >> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO COVER THIS BUT WITH JUSTICE INNOVATION IT'S A BIG BUDGET IN YOUR -- BUCKET IN YOUR BUDGET AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A PLACE FOR IT BECAUSE NEW JUSTICES IS VERY MUCH THE LARGEST OF THE COUNTY BUDGET AS A WHOLE BUT A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS IN A STATE WE CREATED THAT OFFICE BECAUSE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS IN A BIT OF A CRISIS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH A LOT OF THAT AND SEEING HOPEFULLY THE END OF THE BACKLOG PRETTY SOON WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE FUTURE OF THAT DIVISION AND THAT DEPARTMENT? 
          >> I WOULD SAY WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE BEING HELD IN OUR JAIL TOO LONG AND THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT PROGRESS AND I COMMEND EACH STAKEHOLDER INVOLVED BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS CHAIR ENGAGING WITH THIS REGULARLY AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE JAIL PROJECT, THE REIMAGINING THE PROPOSAL, HOWEVER IT WILL COME, THAT IS A HUGE -- IT WILL TAKE MANY YEARS WHATEVER THE COURT DECIDES TO FULLY EXECUTE AND INVOLVE MANY PLAYERS AND I THINK OUR JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ENSURE THOSE DELIVERABLES ARE MET ONCE THE COURT DECIDES WHEN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS LONG AS IT STILL HAS SOME QUESTIONS OF BEING FAIR I THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR THAT TEAM. 
          >> THANK YOU. I WILL RESERVE ALL 17 OF MY 
          SECONDS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT THREE, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS 
          REMAINING. >> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO 
          TALK ABOUT? >> MY ONE MINUTE. 
          I JUST WANT TO BEHALF ON COUNTY OCA IF YOU DO CONTINUE STRATEGIC HIRING THEY WOULD LIKE SOME FLEXIBILITY BY THAT I MEAN GIVE US THE TARGET NUMBER FOR EACH DEPARTMENT WHERE TARGET VACANCIES BUT REDUCE THE PAPERWORK AND FORM BY COURT DECISION MAKING THAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FRUSTRATING TO DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT'S SOMETIMES POSITIONS BECAME VACANT FOR WHATEVER REASON IT WASN'T BECAUSE IT WASN'T NEEDED AND IT STILL WOULD TAKE MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO POST SO WE'RE HAPPY WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME LANGUAGE OPTIONS IF IT CONTINUES BUT ASKING FOR THAT CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE AND 37 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELS ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD ADMINISTRATIVE 
          PARTNER. >> THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. I'VE TRULY ENJOYED WORKING WITH EACH OF THE COURT MEMBERS AND EACH OF THE COUNTY. 
          >> YOU KNOW I HATE TO GIVE UP MY TIME. 
          I WOULD CHALLENGE EVERYBODY LET'S MAKE THESE THINGS AS ENTERTAINING AND GET IN A JOKE BECAUSE YOU ALL GOT A LOT OF THESE TO MAKE IT THROUGH BUT WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES AND THANK YOU ADMINISTRATOR CARTER. WE WILL NOW MOVE ONTO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION FOR THE DAY, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND WELCOME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANIEL RAMIREZ. 
          THEY HAS CHOSE TON SPLIT INTRODUCTORY REMARKS INTO 3 MINUTES AT THE TOP AND 2 AT THE BOTTOM AND EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS IN TOTAL BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. DIRECTOR RAMOS WHEN YOU'RE READY. OKAY THEN WE WILL HAVE A 2 MINUTE BREAK UNTIL 10:30. THANK YOU. 
          [Office of Management and Budget]
          >>  GOOD MORNING, JUDGES TEAM AND COMMISSIONER STAFF MY NAME IS DANIEL RAMOS AND I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR I REALLY DO FEEL OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE CHANGED THE WAY THAT HARRIS KOWNTY HAS DONE BUSINESS 37 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND OPERATIONS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERFORMANCE AND ULTIMATELY ABOUT PEOPLE AND I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK OUR TEAM HAS DONE TO REALLY LIMIT THE IMPACT ON DEPARTMENTS YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD 2 REALLY TOUGH YEARS OF REORIENTING THE COUNTY PRIORITIES AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE DOUBLED DOWN ON ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND WE DID ONE OF THE LARGEST PAY PRIORITIES STUDIES I WOULD GUESS IN THE COUNTY AND ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT INCREASES CERTAINLY IN THE STATE BUT I DEFINITELY THINK PROBABLY IN THE COUNTY AS WELL THAT REORIENTATION HAS COME WITH PAIN BUT IN THE 
          [00:30:04]
COLLABORATION MY TEAM HAS HAD WITH PARTNER DEPARTMENTS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIMIT THE IMPACTS THAT EVERYDAY RESIDENTS ARE SEEING. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU PLACE IN ME. AND HOPEFULLY I AM THIS BUDGET SEASON WITH HAIR STILL. WE'LL SEE. 
          IT'S DEFINITELY GETTING GREYER. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RAMOS. 
          PRECINCT ONE YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOUR HANDCUFFS  OFFICE HAS PROPOSED COUNTY WIDE OFFSETS CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE TIME 
          LINE AND WHICH DEPARTMENT IS -- >> ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED. 
          >> YES. >> IT REALLY DEPENDS ON SOME OF IT TO BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY THROUGH US THERE'S MOVEMENT OF INVESTMENT INCOME FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL BE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN US, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND THE KIND OF HOME DEPARTMENT TO MOVE THOSE FUNDS OUT SOME OF IT IS TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS AND AGAIN THAT WILL BE COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND THE AUDITOR FOR SOME OF ONES WHERE THERE IS A HOME DEPARTMENT WE WOULD ASK THEM TO -- YOU KNOW, WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO DETERMINE WHO IS ON FIRST BASE AND THERE'S SOME FEE INCREASES IN THERE AND I DON'T WANT TO BRING THEM UP NOW THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AGREED TO BY COURT AND I DON'T WANT TO SET OFF ANY ALARM BELLS THOSE WOULD BE ONES WHERE WE WOULD HOPE THAT THAT DEPARTMENT WOULD LEAD ON THEM IF THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TOO THEN WE WILL SUBMIT IT EITHER PRIOR TO BUDGET OR STAND ALONE SO JUST DEPENDS ON WHICH IT WAS BUT WE HAVE LEANED INTO THOSE COUNTY WIDE BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE DON'T THAT O AND D DOESN'T IDENTIFY AS SOMEWHERE ELSE COMING OUT OF A DEPARTMENT REALLY WHERE WE'RE AT IS PEOPLE AND WE'RE KIND OF PAST BEING ABLE TO DIG INTO VACANCIES AND UNSPENT FUNDS AND WE'RE REALLY AT THE POINT MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHO'S STAYING AND WHO'S GOING. 
          >> OKAY, THANK YOU. LAST YEAR THE COURT ADAPTED A BUDGET WITH 25 MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS FROM THE FROZEN V VACANCIES DID THAT ADD TO THE COMMUNICATIONS YOUR STAFF WERE HAVING WITH EACH DEPARTMENT AND WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT STRATEGY AS MORE POSITIONS ARE EXEMPTED THROUGH THE PROCESS? 
          >> SO WE INSTITUTED A HIRING FREEZE AND YOU KNOW THE GENESIS OF THAT WAS REALLY WHEN YOU CUT 270 MILLION DOLLARS IT'S ALMOST 10% OF OUR BUDGET AND IT WAS THE LARGEST BUDGET CUT IN THE LAST TWO DECADES I BELIEVE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE ONLY ONE COMPARABLE WAS THE ONE DURING THE GREAT RECESSION WAS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE BUT SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WE SORT OF HAD REACHED THE END COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNTY OF DECISIONS WE COULD MAKE THE HIRING FREEZE WAS TO SHARE THE PAIN ACROSS A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS OR A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS NOT JUST ADMINISTRATIVE. 
          IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A LABOR OF LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT I WOULD SAY MANY OF THEM HAVE KIND OF LEARNED A LOT INTERNALLY ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PRIORITIZING THEIR HUMAN CAPITAL AND COORDINATING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND US AND IT HAS BEEN A LABOUR OF LOVE AND I THINK WE'VE REACHED A HAPPY MEDIUM AND I'M NOT SAYING THERE WAS NO IMPACTS AND HASN'T BEEN PAIN BUT EVERY DEPARTMENT FEELS LIKE THEY HAD A FAIR SHAKE AND MAKE THEIR BEST CASE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD TOO MANY INSTANCES WHERE AN DEPARTMENT DISAGREED AND I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T COME TO COURT AND I'M NOT TELLING THEM NOT TO COME TO COURT WE MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION I'VE ENCOURAGED THEM HEY IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME THEN WE REPORT TO THIS BODY AND YOU ARE THE TIE BREAKERS. 
          >> THANK YOU. THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION AS THE COUNTY FACING THE REVENUE CAP AND OTHER STATE MANDATES HOW'S THE DEPARTMENT ADJUSTING THE ADVICE YOU ARE PROVIDING COURT 
          OFFICES. >> SO WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO BE BUDGETING YEAR ROUND NOW. 
          IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FACING THE ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLE WE STILL HAVE THE STATE SESSION WHICH CONTINUALLY ADDS ADDITIONAL COSTS OR ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS. I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT -- YOU KNOW I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE QUESTION TO THE ADMINISTRATOR WHAT SCARCE ME OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS EXCHANGES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTROL AND BUDGETING ARE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON HOW WE DO BUSINESS FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE IT'S ON UP TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS AND FOR DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINUALLY PRIORITIZE AND WE'RE KIND OF AT THE POINT LIKE I SAID WE CAN'T GET TO THE BUDGET DEFICITS THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO FACE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND ONE AND TWO SEE POSITIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT FUNCTION ARE WE GOING TO STOP DOING WHAT IS LEAST IMPACTFUL TO RESIDENTS WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON MAINTAINING. 
          [00:35:03]
AND THEN ONE NOTE WE DID TAKE THE FEEDBACK SERIOUSLY FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS LAST YEAR ABOUT HOW THEY FELT KIND OF ICED OUT OF THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR BEFORE ITEMS WENT OUT TO SHERIFF'S COURT THEY RECEIVED THE SAME BRIEFING MEMO WE USED TO BRIEF THE COMMISSIONER SO THEY CAN SEE NOT ONLY HOW IT IMPACTED THEIR DEPARTMENT BUT THAT OUR OFFICE, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE DUG DEEP TO REALLY FIND SAVING THAT IS 
          WERE NOT DEPARTMENTS. >> THANK YOU. 
          PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          HOW ARE YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND OUR 5 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE ENHANCEMENT WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT MOVING TO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING AND THAT DESIRE I THINK OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING ELSE AND RATHER THAN CLS. 
          WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT PROCESS IS LIKE HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DO NOW AND HOW IT IS DIFFERENT FROM PERHAPS LIKE TRUE BUDGET SPENT, WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT COULD 
          LOOK LIKE. >> SURE, SO THE IDEA BEHIND ZERO BASED BUDGETING IF YOU THROUGH OUT THE EXISTING SCHEMA YOU KIND OF START FROM YOU KNOW WHAT IS -- WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT TO KEEP? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT THAT IS THE HIGHEST PRIRLT A PRIORITY AND YU BUILD BUDGETS AROUND THAT AND OBVIOUSLY IN A REVENUE CAP SITUATION THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS THAT GET LEFT AT THE BOTTOM BUT YOU DON'T TAKE EXISTS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE YOU START FROM WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO MEET WITH KPI ASSOCIATED WITH THEM AND ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THOSE THINGS GET LEFT BEHIND. IN TERMS OF PROCESS THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD ASK JUST BECAUSE IT IS A NATURE LEFT AND THERE'S A SOFTWARE AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START IT AS A PILOT OUT OF OUR EXISTING BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT DOES A LOT OF BASELINING AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIG WEAKNESSES THAT WE HAVE PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE'RE SO UNIQUELY SET UP WHERE COMMISSIONERS HAVE A LOT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PARK AND RECS FUNCTIONS IN THEIR BUDGET AND IT'S JUST HOW WE'RE ORGANIZED AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS WITH OTHER TEXAS KOWNTIES AND ESPECIALLY KIND OF BROADER SO THE SOFTWARE HAS -- IT USES AI TO CUT THROUGH ABOUT 7,000 JURISDICTIONS TO KIND OF GET LIKE FOR LIKE LOOKING AT POSITION DESCRIPTIONS AND LOOKING AT PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS TO REALLY GET TO HEY WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING MORE OR LESS ON. WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE IS WE SPENT A LOT MORE ON A LOT OF FUNCTIONS BUT BECAUSE THE FUNCTIONS ARE SPREAD ACROSS FUNDAMENTAL DEPARTMENTS WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DON'T GET SOME OF OUR ECONOMIES OF SCALE THAT OTHERS MIGHT. 
          AND WE ALSO ASK FOR ONE PROJECT MANAGER AND TWO SOME DEDICATED COURT OFFICE STAFF TIME AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR YOUNGER FOLKS WHO MIGHT HAVE SOME AMBITIONS AND WANT TO BE MORE HANDS ON WITH THE BUDGET TO REALLY GO DEEP INTO DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE AND KIND OF RESHAPE IT FROM KIND OF THE GROUND-UP. 
          >> OKAY. SO THE ENHANCEMENT WOULD BE SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGER WHAT ELSE? 
          >> AND THEN SOME DEDICATED COURT STAFF SO WE WOULD ASK TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER DETAIL FROM EACH OTHER. 
          >> OKAY. AND THAT YOU BELIEVE WOULD TAKE OVER A YEAR TO GET EVERYONE ON BOARD. 
          >> I WOULD GUESS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF -- IT'S A WHOLE -- THE WHOLE LOT OF TRAINING DEPARTMENTS TO LEAVE BEHIND WHAT THE OLD SYSTEM WAS AND I MEAN WE HAVE HAD I'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS AND WE'VE DONE THREE MAJOR CRACKS AND ENDED UP WITH SOMETHING RELATIVELY SIMILAR IN MOST CASES AND ITTLE LEAVING THAT ALL BEHIND AND WORKING FROM SCRATCH AND WORKING WITH COURT OFFICES AND GETTING CONSCIOUS FROM COURT OFFICES THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO FALL 
          BELOW THE FUNDING LINE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR RAMOS, YOUR TEAM WE HAVE TO THANK YOU YOUR INCREDIBLE JOB WITH YOUR MONEY. WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PACKAGE THAT FOCUS ON MAINTAINING STRONG FUNDAMENTALS AND FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR CREDIT RATINGS HOW WE DOING ON THAT. 
          ARE WE IN DANGNER MY PARTICULAR AREA? 
          >> ARE YOU ASKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND? 
          OR JUST COUNTY-WIDE. >> COUNTY-WIDE REALLY. 
          [00:40:01]
          >> SO GENERAL FUND ARE BASICALLY IN THE SAME KIND OF RISK POOL THEY JUDGE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, KISSING COUSINS FOR LACK OF A BETTER TECHNICAL TERM. 
          WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE GOT FEEDBACK WE JUST REAFFIRMED OUR TRIPLE A RATING WHICH IS IS THE HIGHEST YOU CAN GO. 
          THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING TRIPLE A THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO GO AND THAT'S DOWN. WE HAVE SEEN SOME CONCERNS AROUND ENSURING OUR RESERVES ARE AT 7 AND A HALF PERCENT. 
          I THINK THAT WAS THE ANSWER. YEAH. 
          7 AND A HALF PERCENT OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          SO I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT LINE BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A COUPLE OF BAD STORMS THAT EVEN TO OUR PICK YOU GET SOME OTHER UNEXPECTED COSTS AND WE MIGHT START RUNNING INTO THAT. WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO START DOING IS WE HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT USING OUR DEBT CAPACITY AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY LARGE BIG TICKET ITEMS COMING UP PREDOMINANTLY THE JAIL OR WHATEVER TREATMENT FACILITY WHICH IS GOING TO PUT A BIG HOLE IN -- IT'S GOING TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAINTAIN OUR TRIPLE A JUST GIVEN THE SIZE AND THE TIME LINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITY THAT BIG. 
          >> OKAY. >> ON THE SIDE I BELIEVE WE'RE THE HIGHEST RATED OF ANY TOLL RODE IN THE COUNTRY SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO IM PPROVE UPON. 
          WHAT THEY ESSENTIALLY SET IS GREAT CASH BALANCES AND AGGRESSIVE CIP. WE HAVE MONEY BUT WE'RE ALSO SPENDING IT. PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY. 
          I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO. 
          EVERY DOLLAR WE'RE SPEND SOMETHING MAKING SOMEBODY SAFER AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR OUR FOLKS TO GET AROUND THE COUNTY BUT AGAIN IT DOES PUT PRESSURE ON THE OVER ALL TAX RATES. 
          >> IN YOUR CLAIMS AND RECOVERY SECTION THERE'S A STATE THAT RECOVERY SIGNIFICANTLY LIABILITY CLAIMS. WHAT'S THE GENERAL SIZE OF THE EX-EXCEEDENS THERE. 
          HOW MUCH WAS IT. >> IT'S A FEW MILLION TO GIVE YOU SOME LIKE SOME CONTEXT AND I THINK THAT THAT TEAM IS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE STATE. YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED -- IT'S NOT JUST ME SAYING IT. IS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE ADDED ALMOST 400 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PAYROLL BETWEEN ALL OF THE RAISES, THE 2500, FOR FOLKS MAKING UNDER 75, THE PAY PARITY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES AND WORKERS COMP WE RUN AS A PART OF PAYROLL IT'S A PERCENTAGE YOU WOULD EXPECT AS WORKERS COMP GOES UP CLAIMS GO UP BECAUSE FOLKS ARE MAKING MORE AND WE'VE SEEN FLAT CLAIMS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND JUST TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT THAT'S AN ABSURD METRIC. 
          TO MUCH LESS HOLD IT FLAT WHEN YOU'VE ADDED OVER  400 MILLION IN RAISES. WE'VE ADDED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT FUND HAS ADDED 15 MILLION IN CASH SO YOU CAN KIND OF GET A SENSE OF HOW MUCH WE'RE EXCEEDING VERSES SOME OF IT ALSO IS THE WAY THE STATE SETS THIS UP IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO SUE US WHICH IS GOOD FINANCIALLY I WOULD ARGUE NOT SO GOOD FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN MANY CASES. 
            
          >> GOOD. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES. >> GREAT, GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR RAMOS. MY FIRST QUESTION IS HOW MUCH FUNDING DID O AND D RECEIVE YEAR OVER YEAR AS PART OF THE 
          COMPENSATION STUDY. >> A LITTLE OVER 100,000. 
          >>DOWN  DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THAT IMPACTED? 
          IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEES. >> YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 12. 
          >> 12. >> PART OF THE REASON OUR NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS -- KIND OF PURE OR SIMILAR SIZED DEPARTMENTS WE DID TOTALLY REEVALUATION OF PAY SCALES WHEN I GOT HERE I WOULD ARGUE WE WERE REALLY TOP HEAVY AND HAD DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS AND SOME WHO WERE NOT MANAGING PEOPLE SO WE'VE RESHIFTED IT TO BE AN LAST ONE THROUGH THREE AND WE HAVE DIRECTORS WE'VE MIRRORED THAT ON OTHER SECTIONS SO RISK MANAGEMENT, AND THE DEBT AND INVESTMENTS WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON CREATING KIND OF A FOURTH YEAR LIKE A SPECIALTY SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY GIFTED ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE BUT MAY NOT WANT TO MANAGE WE WANT TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND I THINK A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT KIND OF FUNCTION WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND AMAZING INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR BUT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO 
          MANAGE. >> GOT IT. 
          THE COUNTY INVESTED IN A 5 YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN AND EFFICIENCY 
          [00:45:01]
STUDY TWO YEARS AGO IN 2024. HOW MUCH DID THE STUDY COST? 
          >> ABOUT 750 AND THEN WE DID A COUPLE SMALL EDITIONS LOOKING AT LEAVE AND SOME OTHER FOLLOW-UP ITEMS BUT ROUGHLY 800,000. 
          >> AND HOW MUCH HAS THAT STUDY GENERATED IN STUDY. 
          >> CUMULATIVELY ABOUT 45 MILLION. 
          THAT NUMBER QUADRUPLES IF YOU ADD IN THE TRANSFER OF HARRIS OVER TO THE JAIL. IT WAS GIVEN BY O AND B AND CAME 
          UP IN THOSE DECISIONS. >> GOOD ROI. 
          >> INCREDIBLE ROI. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL AREAS DIVE INTO SPECIFIC AREAS WE HAVEN'T THUS FAR THAT MIGHT FIRE FURTHER RESEARCH THAT COULD GENERATE 
          FURTHER SAVINGS. >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING QUITE AS BROAD OR SIGNIFICANT WE DID REALLY TAKE A LOT OF THE -- YOU KNOW, LOW HANGING FRUIT AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THE -- WHAT I WOULD SAY THE EASIER LESS CONTROVERSIAL WHAT WE'RE KIND OF -- THERE'S STILL SOME ITEMS WE'RE WORKING ON BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES EITHER MORE TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND REQUIRE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OR FRANKLY SUPER POLITICAL THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAY OR MAY NOT DECIDE TO ACT ON IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS WE'VE SEEN YOU KNOW THE ONE FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REEVALUATING HOW THEY CHARGE MISDEPEOPLERS AND IT'S IMPACT ON DEFENCE. 
          IT'S ONE THAT HAS POTENTIAL FOR VERY LARGE ROI AND WE'VE PUT UP MULTIPLE TIMES AN OFFER TO THE DISTRICT COURTS TO DO -- TO CREATE AN AUDIT FUNCTION AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FUNCTION FOR DEFENCE JUST TO ENSURE FOR EVERYONE'S PIECE OF MIND THOSE BILLS ARE ACCURATE AND TIMELY AND WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND LAST I HEARD SOMEONE SIGNED A COUCHER FOR OVER 2 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU AUDIT A BILLABLE HOUR FROM 2 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND I CAN'T THINK OF A PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITY THAT WOULD ACCEPT A BILL FROM 2 AND A HALF YEARS AGO BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT KIND OF EXPLORING 
          OVER THE NEXT YEAR. >> GOT IT. 
          LAST YEAR THE ADOPTED BUDGET OFFICIALLY TRANSITIONED RISK MANAGEMENT TO O AND B. WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF HOUSING RISK MANAGEMENT WITH O&B JUST THUS FAR TO DATE. 
          >> I WOULD SAY IT'S BEEN A REALLY SEAMLESS TRANSITION. 
          I REALLY WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR KARAZEL WHO CAME WITH THE TEAM AND BROUGHT ALL OF HIS YEARS OF EXPERTISE AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE ARE TWO THINGS, COMMUNICATION, SO YOU KNOW WE MADE SOME COUNTY WIDE POLICY CHANGES WHICH I 100% SUPPORTED WHICH WAS HEY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCIDENTS THAT AREN'T REIM REIMBURSABLE. 
          IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE REGION THAT WE LIVE IN. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY WE DIDN'T PAY OVERTIME FOR THOSE AND NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY IT WAS AT THE DISCRETION AT INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS SO GETTING UNIFORMED ALIGNMENT ON THAT I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT IF RISK MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WERE IN DIFFERENT SHOPS AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE AREAS, THE BIG TICKET FUNDING ITEMS WHERE WE HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, COORDINATE WITH ONE ANOTHER THE -- NOT THE EVALUATIONS, THE ANALYSIS IS A LOT MORE SEAM LESS BECAUSE IT'S ALL IN ONE HOUSE SO WORKER'S COMP AND OTHER RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES AND INSURANCE POLICIES ALL OF THOSE ARE BEING EVALUATED AT ONE TIME UNDER ONE ROOF SO I WOULD SAY THE ANALYSIS IS MUCH HIGHER QUALITY AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OUR BUDGET WE WERE 
          ABLE TO SAVE 400,000 DOLLARS. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU WILL 
          NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR RAMOS. 
          O&B RESPONSIBILITIES AND COURT EXPECTATIONS FOR O&B HAVE EXPANDED IN RECENT YEARS AS THE COUNTY PROFESSIONALIZED IS YOUR STAFFING LEVEL -- AD HOC COURT QUESTIONS AND LONGER TERM STRATEGIC INITIATIVES NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE COUNT'S STRUCTURAL 
          BUDGET DEFICIT. >> SURE. 
          SO WHAT I WOULD SAY AND MUCH OF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE MY TIME YEAR AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE BREADTH AND SCOP OF O&B IS MUCH SMALLER THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO THAN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND NOW WE SHARE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS AND THERE'S GREATER ALIGNMENT. OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD PEERS SHE'S THE SUPER VISOR THAT ALLOWS US TO BETTER COMMUNICATE AND STAY WITHIN OUR ROLES. WHAT I WILL ALSO SAY IS YOU KNOW 
          [00:50:03]
O&B HAS TAKEN EVERY BUDGET CUT THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD AND WE'VE DONE IT AND I WOULD SAY WE'RE BETTER AT THE END OF IT LIKE I REALLY BELIEVE THERE'S ALWAYS EFFICIENCIES AND THERE'S ALWAYS -- THERE'S ALWAYS WAYS TO GET BETTER -- YOU KNOW, WITH LESS RESOURCES. AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT OBVIOUS HAVE A MUCH SMALLER SHOP THAN SOMEONE WITH A MORE NARROW PORTFOLIO BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IS POSSIBLE AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I DO THINK WE'RE STAFFED APPROPRIATELY AT THIS POINT. I WOULD SAY LIKE I MENTIONED WE WERE REALLY TOP HEAVY, YOU KNOW WE TOOK A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS AND REINVESTED IT IN OUR FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM AND MIDDLE TO ENSURE WE HAVE ALMOST NO TURN OVER AND WE'RE VERY, VERY LITTLE TURN OVER AND I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR PAY SCALES, THEY MAKE SENSE AND FOLKS SEE THE PATH THEY ARE ON AND THEY KNOW THEIR TURN IS COMING UP FOR ADVANCEMENT AND WE CREATED BUDGET DIRECTOR SO THOSE DIRECTORS HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. 
          HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T LEAVE ME BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ONE RUNG UP I WOULD SAY WE'RE STAFFED APPROPRIATELY FOR WHAT OUR ROLE IS TODAY AGAIN IF WE WERE TO EMBARK ON SOMETHING SUPER LARGE LIKE ZERO BASED BUDGETING YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN ON THE RECORD ABOUT WHAT MY ASK WOULD BE. 
          >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE WE WILL NOW GO BACK THROUGH FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD NO REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE 
          AND 28 SECONDS REMAINING. >> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT THREE, YOU HAVE 52 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> DIRECTOR RAMOS CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE TARGET OF YOUR CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACCURACY OF COMMERCIAL PAPER 
          NEEDS FORECAST. >> SURE. 
          SO THAT'S REALLY YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS IT'S A MEASURE FOR US IT'S ALSO A MEASURE FOR THE PRECINCTS AND THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENTS WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS WE MATCH UP HOW MUCH COMMERCIAL PAPER WE EXPECT TO DO JUST FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE WAY OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE TYPICALLY FUNDED WE FISH FROM COMMERCIAL PAPER TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS IS ESSENTIALLY A LINE OF CREDIT WHEN WE SPEND DOWN ENOUGH OF THOSE DOLLARS WE ISSUE A BOND TO REFUND OURSELVES AND REFUND THOSE LINES OF CREDITS TO 20 TO 25 YEAR BOND IT'S REALLY TRYING TO MATCH UP THE CASH FLOWS THAT YOU SEND UP AND WITH HOW WE NICHE DEBTS TO ENSURE WE'RE PAYING THE LEAST ABOUT OF INTEREST POSSIBLE AND I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST -- AT LEAST DURING MY TIME YEAR WE'VE BEEN WELL BEEN THE MARGINS. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME SCOPE TO HOW MUCH OUR DEBT TEAM MANAGES. 
          WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT 100 MILLION IN DEBTS ACROSS ALL FUNDS ANNUAL CIP FOR SMALL STATES SO IT ALSO IS A LOT FOR US TO MANAGE 
          COLLECTIVELY. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU HAVE NO TIME REMAINING. 
          COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND 14 SECONDS 
          REMAINING. >> NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES AND THAT -- AND THEN NOW DIRECTOR RAMOS HAS 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING 
          REMARKS. >> OKAY I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ALL THE SUPPORT. I KNOW THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS AND I FEEL LIKE I'M THE GRIM REAPER AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN I CALL SOMEBODY THEY JUST EXPECT THE WORSE BUT EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN HERE IS THE PROCESS HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND IT'S BEEN MORE COLLABORATIVE AND MORE DETAILED AND THE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF SITTING IN THE SEAT WE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE HOW WE TALK ABOUT FINANCES HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY AND WE TALK ABOUT THEM AND THE CONTEXT OF PEOPLE, PERFORMANCE, OUTCOMES, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT JUST IN DOLLARS AND CENTS. 
          THANK YOU ALL AND I'M GOING TO ABIDE BY MY OWN RULE WE'RE THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTY WHOSE JUJT  BUDGET HEARING START 
          AND END ON TIME. >> THANK YOU, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM COMMUNITY SUPER VI 
          VISION. >>  WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. 
          [Community Supervision]
          [00:59:53]
WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY SUPERVISION THEY HAVE ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR 5 MINUTES IN TOTAL AT 
          [01:00:03]
THE FRONT. THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BEGIN 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT TWO. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND I'M JOINED BY JAMES BELL WHO'S ALSO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR. BUDGET MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE PARTNER THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY. 
          AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS BY SUPPORTING POSITIVE BEHAVIORALLY CHANGE WE HAVE A SAFER COMUBILITYS AND FEWER VICTIMS OF CRIME. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT KEY PROGRAMS WE SUPPORT AND DISCUSS ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE PROVIDE. 
          THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. 
          THROUGH TARGETED SUPERVISION, TREATMENT, SPECIALIZED CASE LODES AND STRONG COMMUNITY PAR PARTNERSHIPS WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED. WE'RE DESIGNED TO HELP CLIENTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND FACILITATOR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 
            LIVING SERVICES TO CLIENTS IN THE PROGRAM. 
          AND FMHC IS PROVIDE TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CLIENTS WITH MILD TO NOT RHETT SUBSTANCE DISORDER. AND THEY ARE OFFERED TO CLIENTS WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT. 
          OUR COURT IS TO SUPPORT RAP AROUND SYSTEMS BETWEEN THE GAPS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR -- AND CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING SERVICES AND PEER RECOVERING COACHING. 
          AND THE COUNSELING SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES AND PEER RECOVERY COACHES ARE A PART OF THE SPECIALTY COURT TEAM AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CARE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT TO YOUR PARTICIPANTS. AND ZECIAL IMPORTANT PROGRAM FUNDED BY HARRIS COUNTY IS STAFF AND RESPONSE INNOVATION FOR CHANGE DOCKET OR RIC. AND IT CONSOLIDATES EDUCATE AND PROSTITUTION CASES INTO ONE DOCKET MANAGING AND DIVERTING INDIVIDUALS FROM INCARCERATION TO TREATMENT, SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION. BY PROVIDING ASSESSMENT AND AS WELL AS SUPERVISION. THERE'S OFFERS AND CLIENTS TO PROVIDE CLIENTS ACCESS TO RESOURCES, SERVICES AND/OR SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE SO BRIGHT FROM SUBSTANCE USE SCOREDS OR CO OCCURRING ISSUES WHICH WOULD LEAD TO LONG TERM SUCCESS. 
          THIS SERVICE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE COACHES ARE A CLIENT PARTNER IN RECOVERY. THERE'S SOMEONE WITH A SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCE. ANOTHER IMPORTANT SERVICE PROVIDED IS PSYCHIATRY SERVICES TO CLIENTS IN A DUAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND THE PURPOSE AND BENEFIT OF THIS IS PROVIDING IMMEDIATE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES TO CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUBSTANCE USE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND IT PROVIDES DIRECT INTERACTION BETWEEN CLIENT AND PSYCHIATRIST WITHOUT REQUIRING TRANSPORTATION OR TREATMENT DISRUPTIONS. IN CLOSING HARRIS COUNTY IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH HARRIS COUNTY ADVANCING INITIATIVES WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, STRENGTHEN JUSTICE SYSTEM ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS WE SERVE. OUR WORK IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN WE COLLABORATE AND WE VALUE THE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY, JUDICIARY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS. 
          WE REMAIN COMMITTE ETED TO SUPPORTING THE COURTS BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE BASED SUPERVISION, TREATMENT AND RETAB SERVICES. THOSE EFFORTS WILL ONLY ONLY HELP INDIVIDUALS SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO -- TO SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS MORE EFFICIENT USE OF COUNTY RESOURCES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COUNTED SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT IN MISSION AND TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONGER SAFER HARRIS COUNTY FOR EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND 
          CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT TWO. >> GOOD MORNING, HEATHER CRUZ FROM PRECINCT TWO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING. 
          NORMALLY YOU WORK WITH MATT GARY HE IS OUT WE LEFT WONDERFUL NOTES FOR ME TO FOLLOW. WE WANTED TO START WITH 
          [01:05:01]
RESOURCES THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN YOUR BUDGET TO KEEP YOUR CURRENT STAFF UP TO DATE ON EMERGING BEST PRACTICES IN YOUR FIELD, TALK TO US ABOUT THAT HOW YOU KEEP YOUR STAFF UP TO DATE. 
          >> OKAY. GORIN CAN SPEAK TO FINANCIAL PIECES BUT WE SEE HAVE REGULAR TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND INHOUSE TRAINING DEPARTMENT BUT WE ALSO CAPITALIZE ON CONFERENCES AND EXPERTS IN THE FIELD TO COME IN AND TRAIN OUR STAFF AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 
          >> OKAY, GREAT, THANKS. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BUDGET COMES FROM THE COUNTY AND WHAT COMES FROM THE STATE OR OTHER 
          EXTERNAL SOURCES. >> YEAH, HARRIS COUNTY IS APPROXIMATELY 7% OF OUR TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR CSCD AND THE REMAINING COMES FROM STATE FUNDING WHICH IS A BULK OF IT. AND WE PARTNER WITH HARRIS COUNTY ON APPROXIMATELY 8 OFFICE OF GOVERNOR GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE SOME FUNDING ON AS WELL THAT WE'RE RESINT YNTS OF HARRIS 
          COUNTY. >> WE KNOW FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING HAS BEEN ASIFFY RECENTL WONDERING IF YOU HAVE THREATS. 
          >> IF THERE WAS WOOD WE'D KNOCK ON IT WE'VE BEEN LUCKY THE LAST FUNDING CYCLE WE RECEIVED ALL 8 OF GRANTS AND WE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATIONS FOR THE FY27 SEASON AND WE HAD NUMBER OF GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING WELL AND WE DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES. I'M OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COULD BE A FACTOR THAT'S OUT OF YOUR CONTROL AND ANY MAJOR CHANGES AT OEG, THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DON'T SEE ANY IMPACTS THAT SHOULD BOTHER US 
          FOR THE GRANT CYCLE. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND THEN COMPARE IT TO OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS ACROSS NOT JUST TEXAS BUT THE UNITED STATES HOW DO YOU GUYS 
          FALL BUDGET-WISE. >> WELL, IN TEXAS WE'RE THE BIGGEST AND THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 122  CACD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BEING THE LARGEST WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE FUNDING IT'S A FORMULA BASED FUNDING BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PROBATIONERS YOU HAVE IN YOUR SUPERVISION AND DONE ON BIA BIANNUAL BASIS. 
          AND WE'RE GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 
          >> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. 
          NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE, YOU WILL NOW 
          HAVE 5 MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          SO COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT'S THE CURRENT AVERAGE CASE LODE PER COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OFFICER AND HOW'S THAT CHANGED OVER THE 
          PAST THREE YEARS. >> SURE, SO IT DOES VARY. 
          WE DO HAVE UNITS WITH SPECIALIZED CASE LOADS AND WITH LOWER CASE LODES YOU'LL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEX OFFENDERS THOSE ARE MORE IN THE 60 AVERAGE AND THEN REGULAR CASE LODES ARE GOING TO BE AROUND 150. 
          >> AND THEN COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT ARE THE CURRENT REVOCATION AND RECIDIVISM RATES AND WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING. 
          >> WE HAVE SEEN A VERY LARGE INCREASE IN PLACEMENTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS CERTAINLY SINCE COVID. 
          IN TERMS OF REVOCATION RATES WE ARE CONSISTLY BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE TYPICALLY BETWEEN 7 AND 8% IN TERMS OF RECIDIVISM I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU THOSE NUMBERS ARE RUN BY THE STATE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD AND THEY DO A BIANNUAL REPORT AND I COULD GET THAT TO YOU. 
          >> OKAY. AND THEN LAST QUESTION, JUST OF THE PROGRAMS THAT Y'ALL RUN, WHICH PROGRAM WOULD YOU SAY HAS PRODUCED THE STRONGEST MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND THEN IF YOU HAD TO LOOK AT THEM, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WEAKEST OUTCOMES BUT WHICH PROGRAMS COULD PROBABLY BE REEVALUATED TO SEE HOW WE COULD PROVIDE MORE EFFICIENCIES THERE. 
          >> WHERE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERFORMANCE METRICS EVERY QUARTER WITH HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I LIKE HOW YOU SAID IT, WHICH ONE HAS LOWER NUMBERS AND ONE WE'VE SEEN A SMALL DROP IN THIS YEAR IS TRANSITIONING HOUSING REFERRALS. I DON'T THINK THAT MAKE IT IS A PROGRAM THAT'S STRUGGLING. I THINK IT'S A NEEDS-BASED REFERRAL. WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PUSH REFERRALS AND SPEND MONEY IF IT'S NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT TO FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE METRIC TO MEET FOR A TARGET WE SET A YEAR AGO BUT WHAT WE ALSO SEE WE SEE THOSE REFERRALS MAY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAY HAVE BEEN A RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE -- WE SEE OTHER METRICS GOING UP WHILE OTHERS MAY HAVE A LOWER TREND WHERE WE ARE NOW. 
          I WOULD SAY FOR YOUR -- FOR THE ONE THAT'S MAYBE LACKING ON TARGET RIGHT NOW WOULD BE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT THREE. 
          [01:10:05]
PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, FIRSTLY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WE SO MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAMS AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT DUE TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND SUPPORT AND SERVE THOSE THOSE THAT ARE REENTRYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. 
          CAN YOU DISCUSS IF THE PAY EQUITY PROJECT AFFECTED YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND ANY OUTCOMES YOU'VE SEEN FOR EMPLOYEES OR 
          OPERATIONS? >> OUR DEPARTMENT IS -- OH. 
          >> I'M SORRY FOR EVERYONE ONLINE WOULD YOU MIND GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER. THANK YOU. 
          >> SURE. I'LL BRING IT IN. 
          YEAH FOR THE PAY PARITY PROJECT OUR SCALES ARE ON THE STATE SCALES AND SO WITH I WOULD SAY 90% OF OUR STAFF, 95% OF OUR STAFF BEING STATE-BASED WE DID NOT HAVE PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          AND YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE ON THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIANNUAL FORMULA, STATE FUNDING FORMULA IS THERE ANY IDEA OF WHETHER THAT FORMULA IS GOING TO CHANGE TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE NEEDS OF HARRIS COUNTY ON THIS UPCOMING YEAR. 
          >> WE ALREADY RECEIVED OUR FY27 ALLOCATION. 
          IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY CONSIST TO THE PREVIOUS MAYBE LIKE 100,000 DOLLAR DIFFERENCE SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE A MAJOR SHIFT FOR US IN THAT AND ALL THE COMPETITIVE FUNDING THAT CAME FROM THE STATE AS WELL WAS IDENTICAL AND ACTUALLY IN ONE OF THEM WE RECEIVED A LITTLE BIT ADDITIONAL SO THAT WAS A BENEFIT AS WELL. 
          >> OKAY. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. 
          SO DO YOU THINK THAT THE STATE FUNDING FORMULA REFLECTS THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CLIENT COMPLEXITY THAT 
          Y'ALL DEAL WITH? >> I BELIEVE SO.  FOR THAT FARM LA THEY LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS 180 DAYS AND SO IT'S USUALLY VERY -- YOU KNOW, VERY TIGHT ON THE NUMBER THAT IS ARE CURRENTLY 
          HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY. >> OKAY. 
          >> WHAT KIND OF OPERATIONAL IMPACT WOULD THERE BE IF STATE FUNDING WERE TO DECLINE IN FUTURE YEARS? 
          >> I THINK YOU WOULD SAY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE NOT HAD TO COME FOR SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          MAINLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT -- WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THAT CONSISTENT FUNDING LUCKILY THE FORMULA BASED IS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SO WE DO FORESEE THAT BEING CONNELL CONT BEING THE BIGGEST COUNTY -- AND UNLESS THERE IS A MAJOR SHIFT THAT THE STATE THEN UNFORTUNATELY I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO COME HERE AND JUSTIFY THE NEED TO CONTINUE THE 
          SERVICES AT THE EXISTING LVEVEL. >> THANK YOU, AND CAN Y'ALL DISCUSS ANY HIRING CHALLENGES THE GAMDEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY FACING AND ANY POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT 
          TO FILL. >> SURE, REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE STATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE IMPLEMENTED MANDATORY SALARY INCREASES FOR STAFF. 
          THEY GAVE ALLOCATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT AND SO THE SCALES HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTEN STRONGER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHICH HAS HELPED WITH RETENTION SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST YEAR ABOUT 5% TURN OVER WHICH WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT. THE ONLY POSITION THAT COMES TO MIND THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY COMPETITIVE, COUNSELLORS IS A VERY TOUGH POSITION TO FILL. 
          IT'S A CHALLENGING JOB. ALSO VERY COMPETITIVE RATES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO IT'S DEFINITELY ONE THAT WE GO UP AND DOWN ON BUT WE'RE STILL HANGING ON. 
          >> OKAY. I'M REALLY GRAD TO HEAR THAT. 
          THAT'S SO GREAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM EVERYONE WHAT CSCD'S ROLE IN SUPPORTING THESE SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS LIKE YOU MENTIONED ARE LIKE THE STAR, FELONY, MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND HOW THESE SPECIALTY COURTS HELP 
          REDUCE RECIDIVISM. >> SURE. 
          SO EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAS CSD STAFF INVOLVED AND THEY ARE PART OF EACH OF THOSE STREET SO STAR COURT, FELONY MENTAL HEALTH COURT THOSE ARE TEAMS COMPRISED OF JUDGE, DEFENCE ATTORNEY, PROSECUTOR, COUNCILLOR AND OR LINE STAFF AS WELL SO THEY ARE ALL APART OF THAT PERSON'S SUCCESS SO EVERY SINGLE WEEK THEY ARE IN WORKING WITH THAT CLIENT AND PROVIDING WHATEVER RESOURCES THEY NEED. AND SO AS WAS MENTIONED THEY DO HAVE ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO TRANSITIONAL LIVING AND THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THOSE AGENCIES TO GET THOSE CLIENTS INTO TREATMENT SERVICES MUCH QUICKER THAN YOU MIGHT ON 
          [01:15:01]
REGULAR CASE LODE BUT THAT PERSON IS NOT BEING SEEN AND WE DO SEE SUCCESS FOR CLIENTS WHO DO HAVE HIGHER NEEDS WHO MAY BE HAVE ATTEMPTED A TRADITIONAL SUPERVISION AND JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT. THAT'S WHERE THOSE PROGRAMS COME INTO PLAY SO IT'S SORT OF A CONTINUUM. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND FOR BEING HERE, VERONICA JAMES WITH THE COUNTY JUSTICE QUESTION, THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE HIRING FREEZE AND IF SO, IN WHAT WAYS? 
          >> WE'RE LUCKY TO REPORT WE HAVEN'T HAD A HUGE IMPACT OUT OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY FUNDING IT SUPPORTS 35 POSITIONS WITH HARRIS COUNTY WE'VE HAD NO TURN OVER OVER THE LAST YEAR AND AGAIN WE HAVE A LOW TURN OVER RATE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AS A RESULT OF IT. 
          >> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU. 
          AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE PRECINCT 
          ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES. >> HI, SPENCER WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE. SO THE OFFSETS FOR THE -- IF THE OFFSETS FOR THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST AND TWO COMMUNITY SUPERVISOR ARE APPROVED COULD THOSE CUTS INCREASE COSTS ELSEWHERE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM? 
          >> IT WILL -- AND THIS WHAT SPENCE SENIOR BRINGING UP IS THE 8% BUDGET REDUCTION THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEPARTMENTS AND THOSE ARE THE POSITION THAT IS WE PUT ON AS THE PROPOSAL. 
          YES, IT WOULD CREATE ADDITIONAL BACKLOG AND DELAYS IN ASSESSMENTS, CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS AND PSI REPORTS THAT GO TO THE COURTS. AND SO THAT I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE COUNTY INITIATIVES IS TO CONTINUE TO BACKLOG TO REDUCE IT AND UNFORTUNATELY CUTTING THOSE POSITIONS WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE CASES AS BEST AS WE'D LIKE. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT DO YOU THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THOSE CUTS WOULD END UP BEING LIKE MORE COSTLY OVER ALL THAN HOW MUCH WE WOULD SAVE IN THE 
          SHORT TERM? >> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK SUPPORTING THE INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY WANTED -- YOU KNOW, WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD ON IS THE GOAL THAT WE DIDN'T BRING THAT INITIATIVE TO THE TABLE WE WANTED TO SUPPORT THAT INITIATIVE SO AS FAR AS THE DOWNSTREAM COSTS I'M NOT PARTICULARLY SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE I JUST KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE COURTS IF THEY WERE TO BE 
          REDUCED. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          AND DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY DEVELOPMENTS THAT LIKE AT THE STATE LEVEL, FEDERAL LEVEL OR OTHERWISE THAT MIGHT REQUIRE YOU TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR THE ENHANCEMENT PRIOR THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR. 
          >> WITH FY27 FUNDING CONFIRMED WE DON'T SEE ANY ANTICIPATE COMING BACK FOR ANY SUPPLEMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. WE WILL NOW RETURN FOR A SECOND PASS FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAD 2 MINUTES 
          AND 28 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. 
          YOU PEEKED MY INTEREST WITH YOUR LOW TURN OVER. 
          SHARE SOME SECRETS OF SUCCESS ON LOW TURN OVER, PLEASE. 
          >> SURE. YOU KNOW THE REASON WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE, WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING. 
          SO WITH THE STATE SUPPORT OF SOME OF THE SCALE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN A HUGE BENEFIT TO RETAINING THE BULK OF OUR STAFF, OUR PROBATION OFFICERS APPROXIMATELY 400 OF THEM IN THE DEPARTMENT. 
          SO WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR CORE STAFF AND THEY FIND A WAGE THAT'S REASONABLE AND FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE WE'VE SEEN THAT WORKING FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE SPECIFICALLY IN DOWNTOWN, THE DO YOU WANT CAN BE WE HAVE FIVE REGIONAL OFFICES AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SUPPORT ALL HARRIS COUNTY AND SOME THINGS WE'VE HEARD FROM STAFF IN DOWNTOWN THAT WAS A CHALLENGE PARKING COSTS CAN BE EXPENSIVE ON A DAILY BASIS AND ONE THING WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH ON THE STATE IS PARKING INCENTIVES FOR STAFF THAT WORK DOWNTOWN AND OITHERWISE THEY WEE PULLING IT OUT OF THEIR POCKET AND IT CAN BE AN ADDITIONAL $250 A MONTH DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PARK. 
          ONE FINAL THING THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS FOR US IS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH IN THE DEPARTMENT WITH 400 PROBATION 
          [01:20:01]
OFFICERS YOU NEED TO HAVE SUPERVISORS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING AS PLANNED AND USUALLY OUR RATIO IS ABOUT 10 STAFF TO ONE SUPERVISOR WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 37 ON AVERAGE PROBATION OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS ON BOARD AT ALL TIMES HAVING THAT IN PLACE GIVES A CAREER PATH FOR SOMEBODY WHO MAYBE WANTS TO TAKE A STEP INTO THOSE NEXT ROLES AND WE ALSO HAVE CAREER PATHS FURTHER THAN THAT AS WELL. 
          I THINK AN EMPLOYEE COMING IN CAN REALLY START MORE AT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE AND BECAUSE I KNOW OF ONE ON MY TEAM RECENTLY SHE WAS A CASHIER TAKING COLLECTIONS AT THE WINDOW AND STARTED HER CAREER WITH US AND SHE RECEIVED HER DEGREE WHILE SHE WAS WORKING THERE AND NOW HAS BECOME A PROBATION OFFICER LAST MONTH AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY FOR HER SO SEEING THAT ABILITY TO GROW WITHIN A DEPARTMENT I THINK HAS GONE A 
          LONG WAY FOR A LOT OF STAFF. >> THANK YOU. 
          NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> AND IF I MAY JUST TO ADD TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST STATED WE'RE ENJOYING A LOT MORE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WHICH MAKES OUR WORKPLACE A HAPPIER FOR POSITIVE PLACE. WE'RE VERY PROUD WE'VE ESTABLISHED COLLABORATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WOULD COME IN AND ENGAGE OUR CLIENTS, AND WITH SECOND CHANCE JOBS AND LIVABLE WAGE EARNINGS AND HOUSING AND THAT'S SOME OF THE WORK THAT LINE OFFICERS TRADITIONALLY HAVE TO DO NOW WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL STAFF WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND 32 SECONDS 
          REMAINING. >> JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. 
          IF ANY OTHER COURT OFFICE NEEDS IT. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR, YOU HAVE NO TIME REMAINING. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES AND 18 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> THANK YOU, AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING AND ALL YOUR ANSWERS. 
          I DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION NOW. 
          IF IT WERE TO BE THAT ADDITIONAL KO COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTY HOW OLD THIS AFFECT DEPARTMENT AND CASE LOADS 
          >>  I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2023 AND 2026 WHEN THE SIX NEW DISTRICT COURTS WERE BROUGHT ON WE PARTNERED WITH HARRIS COUNTY WHEN THAT INITIATIVE WAS APPROVED WE KNOW THE SUPPORT WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR COMMUNITY SUPERVISION TO BE APART OF THAT PLAN AND WE GIVE A PROPOSAL OF THE POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COURT LIAISON OFFICERS AND ASSESSORS AND PSA RIDERS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH SPENCER AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW IN THE FUTURE AS WELL SO IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COURT THAT IS COME ON HAPPY TO PARTNER AND WE WOULD COME TO THE TABLE AND MAKE 
          SURE WE SUPPORT. >> DO YOU KNOW IF -- AND THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW BUT. 
          >> SURE. >> DO YOU KNOW IF THE STATE WOULD OFFER MORE FUNDING OR IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU 
          REQUEST SERVICE ENHANCEMENT FOR. >> THEY WOULD BE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT AND REQUEST SPECIFICALLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF BIANNUAL AND THAT FUNDING HAS BEEN ALLOCATED SO GOING TO ASK FOR FUNDING THEY DON'T HAVE AT THIS TIME WOULD 
          NOT BE AN OPTION. >> OKAY. 
          GREAT. THANK YOU. 
          NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD 2 MINUTES AND 50 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> YEAH, YOU'VE TOUCHED ON YOUR PROGRAMS THAT KIND OF SHIFT PEOPLE WHO CAN BE SAFELY BASED IN THE COMMUNITY OUT OF INCARCERATION AND WITH THEIR FAMILIES. 
          IF YOU HAD THE COORDINATION NECESSARY WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND THE BUDGET WHAT OTHER EFFORTS LIKE PIE IN THE SKY WHAT WOULD YOUR DEPARTMENT LOVE TO DO TO FURTHER SHIFT FROM IN CARCARCER 
          MODEL TO COMMUNITY BASED ONE. >> SURE. 
          ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES, OF COURSE, IS HOUSING. 
          HOUSING OUR CLIENTS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. 
          THAT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS ASSISTANCE. 
          WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILT THE CAPACITY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WE FIND A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS THEY GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE YOU JUST CAN'T GIVE THEM A REFERRAL AND TELL THEM TO GO YOU HAVE TO WALK THE WAY THROUGH THEM AND GIVE THEM BUY THEM SHOWING THEM THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE AND INCENTIVE TO THEM SUCH AS FIDELITITY BUNDING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE ISSUE AND A LOT OF CLIENTS GET THE JOBS BUT HAVING THE MONEY TO HOLD THEM OVER TO GET THE PAY CHECK AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD BE HUGE AS WELL AND ALSO PURCHASING BASIC THINGS LIKE PPES, HELMET AND EQUIPMENT TO GET THEM ON THEIR FIRST JOB BECAUSE THE JOB IS OFFERED BUT A LOT OF TIMES OUR CLIENTS DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO GET THEM TO THE TABLE. 
          SO THAT WOULD BE OF GREAT BENEFIT. 
          >> AND ARE THOSE LIMITATIONS PRIMARILY BUDGET BASED OR LIKE DO THEY INVOLVE LIKE WHAT STAKEHOLDERS WOULD THOSE INVOLVE 
          [01:25:01]
          GETTING BUY IN FROM? >> SURE, SO THE STAKEHOLDERS LIKE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, JOBS FOR PROGRESS, AND ENTITIES OF GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES THEY HAVE FUNDING BUT THOSE FUNDING MONEYS RUN OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY OFFER A LOT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING THAT OUR CLIENTS NEED NOT JUST MINIMUM WAGE WAGE EARNING JOBS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST INDICATORS TO POINT US IN THE DIRECTION OF A CLIENT AND NOT RECIDIVISM IS GETTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LIVABLE WAGE JOURNEY JOBS. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL FOR ME. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. 
          AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. THANK YOU, ALL AND AT THIS TIME WE HAVE REACHED OUR MORNING BREAK SO WE WILL BREAK UNTIL 11:45 A.M. WHEN WE WILL RECONVENE WITH A PRESENTATION FROM DISTRICT COURTS. THANK YOU. 
          >>  WELCOME BACK. WELCOME BACK COURT OFFICES IT IS 11:45 A.M. AND WE ARE READY TO RESUME OUR BUDGET HEARINGS. 
          [District Courts]
WITH US NOW IS DISTRICT COURTS THEY HAVE ELECTED TO USE THEIR TIME AS 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRESINCHT THREE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I AM GLORIA LOPEZ AND I AM THE JUDGE OF 308 THS DISTRICT COURT AS WELL AS LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR HARRIS COUNTY JOINING ME TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT COURTS ARE MEMBER THE OF THE JUDICIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
          ERIC HARRIS WHO HAS SERVED OUR INTERIM COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND CHARLESTON CARTER OUR NEW COURT ADMINISTRATOR JOINING US ON HIS VERY FIRST DAY OF WORK. THREE HOURS IN. 
          TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO FRAME OUR PRESENTATION AROUND THREE THEMES, GROWTH, STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC IMPACT. 
          EVERYDAY THE DISTRICT COURTS SERVE THOUSANDS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS THROUGH CRIMINAL, CIVIL, FAMILY AND JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS. THOSE AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, BUSINESS AND AS MORE IMPORTANTLY YOUR FAMILIES. AS HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW SO DO DEMANDS PLACED ON YOUR COURTS IN RECENT YEARS JUDICIARY HAS EXPANDED AND THIS YEAR FIVE NEW DISTRICT CIVIL COURTS BEGIN OPERATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME SENATE BILL 9 HAS EXPANDED STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR COURTS. 
          WHILE JUDICIARY HAS GROWN ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH HAS NOT KEPT THE SAME PACE. 
          EVEN SO WE HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED TO RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE ABSORBED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS. 
          AND THIS YEAR AT YOUR REQUEST IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS OFFSETS THOUGHTFULLY AND IN GOOD FAITH. 
          HOWEVER THOSE REDUCTIONS ARE NOT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. 
          THEY PLACE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON DEDICATED EMPLOYEES WHO KEEP COURTS OPERATING MAKING RECRUITING AND RETENTION MORE DIFFICULT AND THREATEN THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT ALLOWS COURTS TO RUN EFFICIENTLY. 
          THAT IS WHY OUR ENHANCEMENT REQUEST ARE FOCUSED. 
          THEY ARE PRACTICAL AND THEY ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT COURTS. WE ARE REQUESTING TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION, CERTIFIED COURT RED REPORTINGS AND LANGUAGE ACCESS AND OPERATIONAL STAFF. 
          THESE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO SERVE A GROWING JUDICIARY WHILE MAINTAINING ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAXPAYERS. ULTIMATELY THE BUDGET IS ABOUT PUBLIC IMPACT. THE DECISIONS BEFORE YOU AFFECT NOT ONLY OUR EMPLOYEES AND JUDGES BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THOSE WHO DEPEND ON FAIR, TIMELY, AND ACCESSIBLE JUSTICE. TODAY I LOOK FORWARD TO WALKING YOU THROUGH THOSE REQUESTS, EXPLAINING WHY THEY MATTER AND DEMONSTRATING HOW THESE INVESTMENTS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT DISTRICT COURTS CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HARRIS COUNTY TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          PRECINCT THREE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT PERCENT OF YOUR WORK REQUIRES LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION. DO YOU KNOW? 
          >> SO THE EXACT PERCENTAGE I CANNOT GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW. 
          HOWEVER I CAN GIVE YOU A SCENARIO AS TO HOW WE USE IT AND WHEN WE USE IT. I CAN TELL YOU IT EFFECTS EVERY SINGLE DIVISION, ALL FOUR, CRIMINAL, CIVIL, FAMILY AND JUVENILE ESPECIALLY WITH DLFTS AND RESPONDS WHO DO NOT SPEAK OR 
          [01:30:06]
PRIMARY THEIR LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD HERRINGS TO DETERMINE THEIR INDIGENOUSSY AND WHETHER WE HAVE ACCESS TO AN INTERPRETER IN-HOUSE AND IF NOT ACCOMMODATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT DEFENDANT OR RESPONDENT HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN A LANGUAGE THAT THEY CAN 
          UNDERSTAND. >> OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. AND THEN WILL THIS BUDGET ALLOW YOU TO MEET ALL YOUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS? 
          >> NO. SIMPLE ANSWER IS NO. 
          I'LL BE FRANK, WE WERE COGNISANT OF THE COUNTY'S COMPLETED BUDGET AND WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT. SO WE ASSESSED EVERYTHING METICULOUSLY AND ALSO CAUTIOUSLY TO NOT PUT THE COUNTY AT A DETRIMENT BUT ALLOW COURT ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE NOT ONLY TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY BUT PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO JUDICIARY AND ADMINISTRATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE JUDICIARY. 
          >> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT 
          NOW. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING, I'M TALIA MORS ON THE COMMISSIONER TEAM AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES FOR JOINING US AND THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR STAFF. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MOVING CASES THROUGH CIVIL AND FAMILY COURTS AND ENSURING ALL YOU HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES YOU NEED. 
          FOR MY FIRST QUESTION YOU A ALLUDED A BIT TO THE NEW FIVE COURTS CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE LAST TIME NEW COURTS WERE ADDED AND THE IMPACTS YOU EXPECT THIS CHANGE TO HAVE. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY IN 2024-2025 WE ADDED SIX NEW FELONY DISTRICT COURTS THIS WE WILL ADD FIVE NEW DISTRICT COURTS IN THE A SPAN OF ONLY THREE YEARS WE WILL BE ADDING 11 DISTRICT COURTS AND THE EFFECT ON OPERATIONAL SIDE IS IMMENSE AND WE INCREASED JUDICIARY AND THE DISTRICT COURTS WHICH IS INCREDIBLE AND MUCH NEEDED AND A LONG WAIT. HOWEVER WE HAVEN'T INCREASED THE ACCESS -- EXCUSE ME, THE RESOURCES TO HELP SUPPORT JUDICIARY AND WE HAVEN'T INCREASED ANY IT SUPPORT WE HAVEN'T INCREASED ANY OF THE EMPLOYEE RATIO TO EVERY JUDGE AND I DON'T SOLELY ALLUDE TO ELECTED JUDGES, ASSOCIATE JUDGES, SPECIAL COURTS AND PROGRAMS AND ANY OF THE SUPPORTS FOR COURT COORDINATING WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS PROBATION OFFICE, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND PUBLIC DEFENDING OFFICE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY FUNDING ALLOTTED IN THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FULLY SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT MORE WITH A LOT LESS BUT CONTINUED WITH OUR MOTO OF PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO ALL. 
          >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. 
          IN 2024 THE COURT ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING TO HELP REDUCE THE BACKLOG RELATED TO COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PROGRESS ON THAT AND THE SAVINGS GENERATED PLEASE. 
          >>, OF COURSE, FIRST I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR DOING THAT AND PROVIDING THAT FOR DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION. THE IMPACT IS MEASURABLE AND FIRST WE STARTED WITH A BACKLOG OF 40 TO 50 EVALUATION BACKLOG AND THROUGH THE FUNDING AND THE PROGRAM PROVIDED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO THIS, WE HAVE REDUCED IT FROM 10 TO 12 BACKLOG. PER MONTH I SHOULD SAY. 
          SO THIS IS INCREDIBLE. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT HOW FUNDING AND RESOURCES WHEN THEY ARE INCREASED TO THE DISTRICT COURTS IT DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS IN JAIL THAT WERE WAITING FOR THESE COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS. 
          IT EXPEDITED THE AVAILABILITY FOR JUDGES TO HOLD TRIALS BECAUSE THOSE EVALUATIONS MUST OCCUR PRIOR TO DETERMINATION OF WHEN TRIAL CAN COMMENCE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A TRUE POSITIVE THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN LAY EYES AND SEE THAT IT WAS A POSITIVE AND MEASURABLE OUTCOME. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I'LL HOLD MY TIME TO GIVE OTHER COURTS A 
          CHANCE. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR 
          QUESTIONS. >> HI, MEGAN DELARDO WITH THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THIS FISCAL YEAR YOU ALL SAW SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO YOUR OPERATIONS TO THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE TO YOUR BUDGET AS LONG AS SP9 TAKING AFFECT I'M SURE OTHER 
          [01:35:02]
LEGISLATION IMPACTED YOU AS WELL ARE YOU STILL FEELING ANY OF THOSE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF OPERATIONAL DEMANDING WITH STAFFING WE RETENTION AND ABILITY TO PROCESS CASES EFFICIENTLY AND ANYTHING ELSE AND WHETHER YOU EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE IMPACTS INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 
          >> YES. WHAT WE SAW IN OPERATIONAL SIDE WITH THE ADDED LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS THAT DISTRICT COURTS MUST ABIDE BY AND IT'S NOT A MAY ASHALL WE SAW IS NEED FOR EXAMPLE I'LL SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO SP9 REQUIRES 24 HOUR EMPLOYEES THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER COURT THAT DID PROVIDE FUNDING AND WE WERE ABLE TO RETAIN IT SUPPORT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE FELONY DIVISION. 
          AND WHILE IT IS HELPFUL, IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING AND ANTICIPATING WITH THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING IN JANUARY THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE FIVE NEW CIVIL DISTRICT COURT THAT IS ARE COMING IN THE FALL AND THAT IS NOT SOLELY JUDGES. IT'S EASY TO CAPTURE AND TO THINK OF IT AS ONLY FIVE COURTS. IT'S NOT SOLELY FIVE SOCOURTS I COMES WITH TRIAL COORDINATOR AND COURT COORDINATORS AND COURT REPORTERS AND STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS FROM THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION WE MUST PROVIDE TO EACH ONE OF THOSE COURTS TO MAKE SURE THEY FUNCTION CORRECTLY. 
          EFFICIENTLY. AND TIMELY SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH SPACE WHERE WILL WE PLACE THESE VERY MUCH NEEDED CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS PRIOR TO EVEN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS OF SPACING FOR INTERIM LOCATIONS NOT ONLY FOR THE JUDGES THAT IS SAFE AND PROVIDES THEM ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THEM BEING ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT ALSO FOR THEIR STAFF WHERE WILL THEY BE PLACING THEIR LUNCH BOX AND THEIR PURSES PRIOR TO HOLDING AN ENTIRE TRIAL DOCKET OR JURY TRIAL. 
          THERE ARE MANY ONCOMING EVENTS THAT THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION FORESEES AND NOT ONLY FORESEES BUT KNOWS ARE COMING THAT ARE OPERATIONALLY ARE AFFECTING US. 
          >> CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW YOUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS WILL GET TO SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT WE SUPPLEMENTED YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED OR KINDLY REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL TWO IT POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE EXPANDED COURTS AND THE DAILY RELIANCE ON COURT TECHNOLOGY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR IT SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE 67 DISTRICT COURTS. 
          14 ASSOCIATE JUDGES. PLUS SPECIALTY COURTS LIKE THE ERD PROGRAM. NOT TO MENTION COURT REPORTERS THAT ALSO NEED DEVICES AND IT SUPPORT FOR THEIR RECORDS AND THEIR MACHINES THAT MAKE RECORDS AND I'M NOT COUNTING THE MACHINES, THE DESK TOPS, THE LAPTOPS, THE CELL PHONES, ALL OF THE IT SUPPORT THAT COMES WITH THAT. 
          ADDITIONALLY WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF COURT RE REPORTER FLOATER PROGRAM. CURRENTLY WE DO NOT HAVE FULL TIME COURT REPORTERS THAT SUFF SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ALL COURTS. 
          SO OUR REQUEST IS TO INCREASE AND ADD FIVE FULL TIME FLOATING COURT REPORTERS TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON OUR CURRENT CONTACT COVERAGE AND EXPAND SERVICES TO MORE COURTS. 
          I'LL GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE CURRENTLY TAX COURT HAS TO RELY ON A COURT REPORTER TO BE BROUGHT EITHER FROM A DISTRICT COURT OR PRESIDING JUDGE THAT HAPPENS TO HAVE RECEIVED A SETTLEMENT AND DON'T HAVE A COURT REPORTER IN USE. 
          THIS PROGRAM AND REQUEST WOULD ALLOW ME TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FULL TIME COURT REPORTERS SO TAX COURT ZUNT HAVE TO DELAYS OR QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE COURT REPORTERS OR RELY ON SOFTWARE OR RECORDING THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS PROVIDE THE STATUTORY REQUIRED TRANSCRIPT LEVEL OF TRANSCRIPTS. 
          >> I'LL RESERVE MY 6 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 
          MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, RHETT  RITA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND WELCOME TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EXCITING FIRST DAY. 
          SO I WANTED TO DIG A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE IT STAFFING THAT 
          [01:40:03]
YOU'VE REQUESTED. YOU INDICATED THE TEAM HASN'T GROWN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CREATION OF NEW COURTS OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO HOW DOES INSUFFICIENT IT IMPACT COURT 
          OPERATIONS. >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SCENARIO WITH HOW THE COURTS WORK AT TIMES AND CERTAINLY EVERY COURT IS A BIT DIFFERENT BUT FROM A GENERAL PERSPECTIVE COURTS HOLD DOCKETS, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 A.M., 8:30 AND 9 P.M. 
          SO THOSE ARE THE HOT HOURS. THOSE ARE THE HOURS THAT REQUIRE THE MOST SPENCE MUST HAVE CALLS OR TICKET REQUEST TO PROVIDE HELP AND RESOURCES TO JUDGES. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IF WE HAVE 67 JUDGES HOLDING DOCKET ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 A.M. TO 9:30 A.M. IT REQUIRES IT FOUR INDIVIDUALS TO PRIORITIZE AND DETERMINE WHICH IS MORE OF A FIRE AND WHICH IS NOT. 
          WHAT CASE OR WHAT JURY TRIAL, WHO HAS A JURY PANEL, VANEER PANEL AND ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT MY EMPLOYEES, THE IT SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO GO FIRST. SO IT DOES EFFECT PROCESSING AND DISPOSITION OF CASES. WE MUST STALL OR DETERMINE OR RELY ON THE JUDGES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH THEIR DOCKET AND DETERMINE IF THEY CAN MOVE CASE FORWARD A CASE WITHOUT VIRTUAL ACCESS TO DEFENDANTS OR RESPONDENTS OR ATTORNEYS SO IT DOES REDUCE A NUMBER OF CASES FOR THAT SPECIFIC DAY. WITH LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND NOW PROVIDED SPECIFIC NUMBER ON THE BENCH AND OF CASES THAT ARE DISCLOSED TO OCA ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT ALSO PROVIDES ANOTHER PRESSURE IF I AS A DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR CANNOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER TO THAT SPECIFIC JUDGE AS TO CANNOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THEIR CURRENT PROBLEM. 
          >> THANK YOU. YOU'VE REQUESTED SEVERAL POSITIONS UNDER THE JUDICIAL RESOURCE OVERSXIETH COMPLIANCE PACKAGE. WHAT DUTIES WOULD THE ANALYST SPECIFICALLY HAVE AND WHAT IMPACTS DO YOU ANTICIPATE FROM 
          THIS POSITION? >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          I DO WANT TO PROVIDE MR. HARRIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS TO THIS PROGRAM AS WE DID CREATE THIS TOGETHER. 
          BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANTED TO STATE THE REASON WHY THE J-- PROGRAM WAS CREATED AND PLACED AS ONE OF OUR ENHANCEMENTS. 
          IN JANUARY, AND I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, JANUARY IS A DAY THAT I STARTED IN THIS VERY POSITION. 
          AND I'M GRATEFUL TO EACH OF YOU FOR PROVIDING ME TIME TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND LEARN WHAT THE KIENT'S NEEDS ARE AND WHAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER. 
          THROUGH THOSE MEETINGS I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE INCREASE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE FUNDS AND THE LACK OF CLARITY OR TRANSPARENCY OR POSSIBLY THE LACK OF INTERNAL AUDIT THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD PROVIDE FROM THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION. 
          AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE PAST SOMETIMES THAT INFORMATION WAS LAND ON DEAF EARS. 
          AND I WANTED TO ASSURE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND CONSTITUENTS THAT IT DIDN'T LAND ON DEAF EARS WITH ME. 
          SO AS TO HOW IT WOULD WORK. MR. HARRIS, CAN YOU HELP US EXPAND? 
          >>. >> SURE. 
          SO THE JUDGES WOULD REQUIRE MORE TOOLS ON THE BENCH AND THIS WOULD PROVIDE THEM A TEAM TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO REPORTS TO DASHBOARDS TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION WOULD ALLOW THEM TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS BEING BUILT AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FAIRLY QUICKLY. 
          >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. 
          >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          HEATHER CRUZ FROM PRECINCT TWO. WELCOME TO HARRIS COUNTY. 
          SAFELY REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COURT. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR QUITE AWHILE AND OF COURSE SAVING MONEY ON OUTSOURCING THEN PROVIDES MORE MONEY FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. 
          SO IF YOU GUYS CAN WALK THROUGH HOW THE E.R.D. DOCKET IS A PIECE OF THAT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK IN 2027. 
          TO HELP. >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          E.R.D. HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PROGRAM AND IT'S IN DIFFERENT 
          [01:45:04]
VARIATIONS. BEEN DIFFERENT TITLED IDENTIFIED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I KNOW IN THE PAST IT WAS ONE COURT CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO COURTS. 
          AND AT THE BEGINNING THERE IS THREE AND A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED THAT ALOUD FOR THIRD DEGREE AND STATE JAIL CASES TO BE CONSIDERED. AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL. THAT CASE LOAD WAS COMPLETED. 
          THERE WERE SOME WRINKLES THAT NEATEDED TO BE IRONED AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS WHERE FROM A DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE COLLABORATION. AND ALSO SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES AND PEOPLE TO CONTINUE THAT PORTION OF THE EMENT RMENT D. PROGRAM. WHICH WE FULLY SUPPORTED AND WERE ECSTATIC OF THE PROGRESS AND THE POSITIVE OUTCOME THERE. 
          THE OTHER TWO E.R.D. PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY RUN THIS WAY ARE TO CONSIDER AND TO HEAR OLDER CASES WHERE AS WELL STATUTORILY REQUIRED PRECEDENTED CASES. 
          I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS AS TO THE DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN CASES. ERIC, CAN YOU PROVIDE WHAT THE E.R.D. POSITIVE OUTCOME MORE FOR THIS LAST YEAR? 
          >> SO THE CASES WENT THROUGH ABOUT 47 JURY TRIALS. 
          ABOUT 419 CASES INVOLVING 695 DEFENDANTS. 
          SO THOSE CONTINUED TO BRING THOSE CASES TO THE E.R.D. AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HOME COURTS TO WORK ON 
          THERE. >> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT E.R.D. IS NOT IN LOU OF THE HOME COURTER TO DISTRICT COURT. IT'S IN ADDITION TO. 
          SO IT'S-- I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH FELONY DISTRICT COURT AND SEEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF CASES THAT MUST BE PROCESSED AND THE LARGE COLLABORATION THAT MUST OCCUR NOT ONLY WITH THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. SO WHEN THE HOME COURT HAS AN ENTIRE DOCKET THAT IS A FEW HUNDRED CASES BUT ALSO HAS A VERY SERIOUS STATUTORY CASE THAT MAY TAKE A FEW WEEKS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO JUGGLE BOTH OF THOSE. 
          SO EMENT R.D. WAS CREATED MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO TO PROVIDE THESE HOME COURTS AND OPTION TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THE DEFENDANT RECEIVED A FAST SPEEDY TRIAL PER SE. 
          AND ALSO ALLOW THE OTHER DEFENDANTS TO HEAR THEIR 
          EVERYDAY CASES. >> SO WHAT I'M HEARING, I BELIEVE, IS THAT WE WILL NEVER TRIAL OURSELVES OUT OF E.R.D. 
          SO YOU ALWAYS SEE THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR E.R.D. TO ASSIST. 
          >> I BELIEVE WITH EVERYTHING, YES. 
          TO ANSWER A QUESTION, PLAINLY, YES. 
          BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR COMMUNICATION TO IMPROVE IT. WITH COLLABORATION NOT ONLY COMMISSIONER'S COURT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. 
          IT CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED. 
          IN ORDER TO ASSURE THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT WE ARE TORCHED OF THE RESOURCES OF THIS COUNTY. 
          MAKE SURE THAT IT IS DONE EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY. 
          >> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. WE WILL NOW TAKE OUR SECOND PASS FOR ANY REMANGE TIME. PRECINCT THREE. 
          YOU HAD THREE MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> THANK YOU. JUST A FOLLOW UP TO THE QUESTION ABOUT YOUR BUDGET MEETING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. 
          HOW FAR OFF ARE YOU? >> MONEY WISE OR RESOURCE WISE? 
          >> YES. MONEY WISE. 
          >> THAT'S A DANGEROUS QUESTION FOR MR. RAMOS. 
          >> AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. SO MAYBE A DIFFERENT QUESTION. 
          SO THE RESOURCES ARE STRAINED. AND WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE WITH LESS BUT I BELIEVE FOR YOUR QUESTION IS ARE WE MEETING OUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURT? I BELIEVE WE'RE MEETING THOSE WE ARE JUST DOING IT CURRENTLY STRAINED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THOSE OPERATIONS JUST LIKE WE'VE ADDED A FEW RESOURCES FOR THE SP9 PROGRAM THAT'S A 24/7 OPERATION THAT NOW HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR COURTS. THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE. 
          SO THOSE ARE OPERATIONS THAT RUN ON HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS AT 
          [01:50:02]
THE DISTRICT COURTS WERE CURRENTLY NOT DOING THOSE TYPES OF DOCKETS. AND REQUIRING JUDGES TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT WERE STATUETORIAL REQUIRED ON THE WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. SO THAT'S A HUGE RESOURCE 
          STRAIN THAT'S BEEN PUT ON US. >> OKAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT THREE. FOUR. 
          HUH ONE MINUTE AND 46 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> YES IN 2024, PRECINCT FOUR STRONGLY ADVOCATED FOR AND THEN THE COURT ALLOCATED SOME CIP FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FELONY COURTS. 
          I KNOW SOME ARE COMING TO 12 CAROLINE SOON COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO WHAT THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT THERE YOU CIP. 
          201 CAROLINE WHICH IS A CIVIL COURTHOUSE WILL BE COMPLETE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND DISTRICT COURTS CONCLUDE AS WELL AS FAMILY DISTRICT COURTS. SO IT'S ABOUT HOW MANY COURTS? 
          >> 43 COURTS. >> 43 COURTS INCLUDING DISTRICT AND CIVIL COUNTY COURT AT LAWS. THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE HELP TO THE COURT SYSTEM. THE NEED FOR I.T. SUPPORT. 
          I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT PROBABLY WAS ABOUT 80% MORE THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW. 
          NOW THE QUESTIONS I ASK IS IF IT'S ME PROBLEM. 
          THE LACK OF NEW UNDERSTANDING IN THE SYSTEM. 
          WHICH IS A FAIR LEARNING CURVE. BUT IN THE PASSING IT'S BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AND DID PROVIDE SOME HICCUPS AND CONCERN THOUSANDS USE IT. INCLUDING THE CRIMINAL COUNTY COURT AT LAWS WILL RECEIVE THIS UPGRADE AS WELL COMMENCING NEXT 
          MONTH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. YOU HAVE SIX SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> THAT'S OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          PRECINCT ONE HUH 32 SECONDS REMAIN PG. 
          >> THANK YOU I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. 
          JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THE EMERGENCY RELIEF DOCKETS. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN OR FURTHER ELABORATE ON HOW THE HOME COURTS WOULD BE IMPACTED IF THESE DOCKETS WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO TAKE THESE STATUETORIAL DESIGNATED PRIORITY CASES. 
          AND ALSO CONFIRM OR EXPLAIN WHETHER THE HOME COURTS ARE STILL TAKING THESE PRIORITY TRIAL CASES? 
          >> YES, SO THERE'S ONLY TWO E.R.D. COURTS. 
          AND WE HAVE 29 FELONY DISTRICT COURTS. 
          SO HOME COURTS STILL TRY THESE CASES. 
          NOT IN LOU OF BUT IN ADDITION TO. 
          AND YOUR FIRST QUESTION. MAY I CONTINUE? NO? I MAY, OKAY. 
          CAN YOU ARE MIND ME THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION? 
          >> THE IMPACT ON THE HOME COURTS. 
          >> THE IMPACT IS-- AT NOT ONLY JUST DISPOSITION OF CASES. 
          IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE QUALITY IF A JUDGE HAS TO RUSH THROUGH A SPECIFIC DOCKET OR SEAT TO HEAR A QUESTION FROM A JURY OR TO IN PANEL, IT REALLY DOES DIMINISH THE CONFIDENCE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO DEFENDANTS. AND ALSO TO SELF-REPRESENTED 
          LITIGANTS OR ATTORNEYS. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. 
          PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAD 44 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> I DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. 
          DISTRICT COURTS? YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR 
          CLOSING REMARKS. >> WONDERFUL. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE ASSOCIATE JUDGES FROM THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION THAT HAVE APPEARED. 
          JUDGE BAUFMAN, JUDGE EVANS AND JUDGE COLLINS HAVE APPEARED BEFORE. THAT APPEAR BEHIND US. 
          ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL. 
          OUR ENHANCEMENT'S REQUEST HAVE NOT BEEN ABOUT EXPANDING GOVERNMENT. I WANTED TO REMIND THAW THEY ARE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE JUDICIARY AND ENSURING OUR COURTS HAVE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC EFFECTIVELY. THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU ARE PRACTICAL INVESTMENTS IN THE PEOPLE AND THE SERVICE THAT NEIGHBORING JUSTICE SYSTEM WORK. 
          EVERY CASE FILED IN OUR COURTS REPRESENTS A ■ERSON. 
          A FAMILY. A BUSINESS. 
          OR A VICTIM. LOOKING TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR A FAIR AND TIMELY RESOLUTION. 
          THE DECISIONS YOU MEET TODAY WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS TOMORROW. 
          [01:55:03]
ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT COURTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE JUDICIARY. AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU. >> THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION FROM DISTRICT COURTS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM THE TAX ASSESSOR 
          COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. >> IT IS 12:15 P.M. AND THANK 
          [Tax Assessor-Collector]
YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. 
          THEIR TEAM HAS ELECTED TO BEGIN THEIR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS WITH FOUR MINUTES WITH ONE MINUTE FOR CLOSING REMARKS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT FOUR. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS BUDGET. BEFORE I GET TO THE NUMBERS I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SUPPORT YOU HAVE SHOWN AND MOST OF ALL OUR EMPLOYEE WORK FORCE. 
          THIS YEAR THE COURT MADE A HEFTY INVESTMENT AND ROUGHLY 88% OF TAX OFFICE EMPLOYEES RECEIVED A RAISE OF 3% OR MORE. 
          THIS HAS ALREADY STRENGTHENED OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT TALLANT AND WE EXPECT THE INVESTMENT WILL ALSO HELP US RETAIN AND SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO HARRIS COUNTY CONSTITUENTS EVERY DAY. 
          LAST YEAR, I OUTLINED A PLAN TO MODERNIZED SERVICES. 
          OR MODERNIZED OPERATIONS. ILL PROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE, STRENGTHEN COMPLIANCE, AND GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY. I'M HERE TO REPORT THAT WE DELIVERED ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE COMMITMENTS. 
          LET ME PROVIDE YOU WITH A BRIEF RECAP. 
          MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX PAP NEW ONLINE PAYMENT PORTAL IS LIVE. 
          IT CAN SET REMINDERS AND ENROLL PAYMENT PLANS ONLINE. 
          SINCE OCTOBER WE HAVE RECEIVED 213,000 REGISTRATIONS AND SINCE ROLLING OUT AUTOMATED AND PRE-PAYMENT PLANS IN FEBRUARY, OVER 3,000 PRE-PAYMENT APPLICATIONS IN 27 00 DELINQUENT PAYMENT PLAN APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THE PLATFORM HAS EXPANDED ACCESS TO RESIDENTS AND REDUCED IN-PERSON VISITS. 
          OUR NEW PRIORITY PAST SOFT LAUNCHED IN JUNE. 
          ON THIS SYSTEM, RESIDENTS CAN UPLOAD THEIR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS IN ADVANCE. 
          RECEIVE A BAR CODE, AND SKIP THE LINE WHEN REGISTERING IN PERSON. THAT MEANS A SHORTER WAIT, BETTER SXEERNS SMOOTHER BRANCH TRAFFIC FOR ALL RESIDENTS. 
          A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM. 
          WHEN OUR FORMER VENDOR BECAME INSOLVENT, WE QUICKLY BROUGHT ON CONSULTANTS AND KEPT THE COUNTY VOTER'S REGISTRATION SERVICES RUNNING THROUGH NINE ELECTIONS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. 
          WE HAVE PROCURED A NEW SYSTEM. AND WE ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING A MODERN LONG-TERM PLATFORM. WE HAVE ELIMINATED OUR COMMERCIAL TITLE BACKLOG. WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, THERE WAS A 60,000 COMMERCIAL PACKAGE BACKLOG AND THE PROCESSING WAIT TIME EXCEEDED 2 ½ MONTHS. FAR OUTSIDE THE 72 HOUR STATUTORY OBLIGATION. WE EVALUATED THE OPTIONS. 
          MADE A HARD CALL. AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS WHERE DEMAND WAS HIGHEST. PROCESSING COMMERCIAL PACKAGES IS DOWN TO ABOUT A WEEK AND STILL IMPROVING. 
          OUR DOORS ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON WEDNESDAYS. 
          BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND THE CAR DEALERS AND RESIDENTS THEY SERVE ARE GETTING FASTER SERVICE BECAUSE OF IT. 
          I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TAX OFFICE'S FINANCIAL IMPACT. 
          FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, THIS OFFICE GENERATED 7.3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE INCLUDING $6.9 MILLION RECURRING. WHICH EXCEEDS OUR $4.5 MILLION BUDGET OFFSET. THIS DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A GOOD PARTNER TO THE COUNTY BY GENERATING SUSTAINABLE REVENUE. EXERCISING RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND DELIVERING MEASURABLE VALUE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, WE ARER BUILDING ON OUR PROGRESS. WE WILL DEPLOY FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES FOR ONE STOP VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND TITLE. 
          THIS WILL ADD LOCATIONS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO INCLUDE 
          [02:00:01]
WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY HOURS AND WILL BENEFIT ALL RESIDENTS BY REDUCING IN-PERSON WAIT TIMES. 
          AND WE ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO OUR ADVANTAGE. 
          WE ARE AUTOMATING HIGH VOLUME PROCESSES LIKE PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS AND WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A MODERN SYSTEM TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE ACROSS ALL OUR SERVICE AREAS. 
          EVEN WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE PLAN TO DO, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A BUDGET EXPANSION. 
          INSTEAD WE SEEK TO FUND CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICES AND SPENDING. 
          THIS REQUEST ALIGNS OUR BUDGET WITH PREVIOUSLY-APPROVED PCN ACTIONS AND SUSTAINS THE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
          STATUTORY COMPLIANCE, AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE WE'VE ACHIEVED THIS YEAR. IN SHORT, THIS REQUEST PRESERVES THE PROGRESS WE'VE ALREADY MADE AND A LEVEL OF SERVICE RESIDENTS RELY ON. FINALLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TAX OFFICE'S VALUE. MORE BROADLY FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON THE TAX OFFICE. WE RETURN A DOLLAR AND 51 TO THE GENERAL FUND. THANK YOU AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR 
          QUESTIONS. >>>  THANK YOU. 
          WE WILL BEGIN WITH PRECINCT FOUR. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. ACTUALLY GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          PRECINCT FOUR AND ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE, WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND VOTERER REGISTRAR MS. ANNETTE RAMIREZ AND HER STAFF OF OVER 500 EMPLOYEES AND PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT CRITICAL COUNTY OPERATIONS INCLUDING THE COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAXES. VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND REGISTRAR. CAN YOU PLEASE WALK US THROUGH THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AS HIGH LIGHTED IN YOUR OPENING THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE PROPOSED BUDGET. 
          IF YOU CAN TAKE US SPECIFICALLY AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS AND THE SERVICE OPTIMIZATION THAT 
          YOU'VE MENTIONED? >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO OUR OFFICE HAS THREE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES ESSENTIALLY. 
          NONE OF WHICH OVERLAP ONE WITH THE OTHER. 
          SO WE COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND FOR 85 OTHER TAXING ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. 
          WE ALSO DO THE VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS AND THE TITLE REGISTRATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ALSO FOR OVER 3,000 CAR DEALERS WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE HANDLE THE VOTER REGISTRATION FOR THE COUNTY AND 2.7 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          SO FROM OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE FROM THE VERY FIRST IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE. WE RELEASED A NEW PLATFORM BY HARRIS COUNTY TAX.COM THAT MODERNIZEDED THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE RESIDENTS. ALLOWED THEM TO CREATE A USER PROFILE. PAY MULTIPLE PIECES OF TAXES AND MULTIPLE PIECES OF PROPERTY AT ONE TIME BUT ALSO ALLOWED THEM TO SET UP REMINDERS WHETHER E-MAIL OR TEXT REMINDERS TO REMIND THEM TO PAY THEIR TAXS. 
          AND MOST RECENTLY WE ADDED TO THAT AND WE NOW ALLOW TAX PAYERS TO SET UP THEIR OWN PAYMENT PLANS. 
          AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL. SO THEY CAN GET ON DELINQUENT PLANS BUT NEW TO HARRIS COUNTY IS ALSO THE ABILITY TO PRE-PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WITH THE HOPES THAT WE WILL DECREASE DELINQUENCIES. FOLKS PRE-PAYING THEIR 2026 TAXES. SO THAT BILL IS PAID BEFORE DECEMBER. FROM THE VOTERER REGISTRATION SYSTEM AS I MENTIONED WE OF COURSE REPLACING THAT SYSTEM. 
          WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. 
          WE WILL BE RUNNING BOTH SYSTEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY THE NEW SYSTEM IS CALLED TENEXAND HAS BETTER TECHNOLOGY. 
          AND BETTER MAPPING TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND MAKING SURE WE ARE MAPPING EVERYBODY WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. OF COURSE ON THE AUTO SIDE. 
          WE MOST RECENTLY ROLLED OUT A PRIORITY PASS WHICH ESSENTIALLY DIGITIZES THE ABILITY FOR FOLKS TO RENEW THEIR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS. AND SKIP THE LINE WHEN THEY GET INTO OUR OFFICES AND GO TO A PRIORITY PASS WINDOW WHERE ALL THEY ARE DOING IS TAKING THEIR REGISTRATION STICKER AND PAYING THE FEE. WHAT WE ALSO DID ON THE OPERATION SIDE AND MENTIONED DUE TO THE BACKLOG OF TRANSACTIONS WHEN I GOT INTO OFFICE AND FROM CHANGES IN THE LAW DURING SUMMER, WE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE TRIED, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO WORK THROUGH. STATUE STORILY WE WERE REQUIRED TO PROCESS THOSE IN 72 HOURS. WE WERE AT 2 ½ MONTHS AND SO THAT IS THE-- WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE OFFICE ON WEDNESDAYS. AND FOCUS ALL OF OUR STAFF PROCESSION THOSE AUTO TRANSACTIONS SO WE COULD KEEP 
          CATCH-UP AND KEEP UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          I WILL HOLD MY TIME. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR. >> THANK YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH OF MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX PORTAL IN 2025, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS AND TRANSITION HAVE ONLINE SERVICES AND HAS THIS 
          [02:05:01]
NOTICEABLY REDUCED FOOT TRAFFIC AT THE 16 BRANCH LOCATIONS? 
          >> SO SINCE MY HARRIS COUNTY TAXES LAUNCHED. 
          213,000 RESIDENTS HAVE REGISTERED TO USE THE SYSTEM AND CREATED USE PROR FILES. WHEN PAYMENT PLANS LAUNCHED IN EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE NOW HAVE HAD 6,000 PAYMENT PLANS APPLICATIONS. AND SO I WILL SAY THE MAJORITY OF OUR TRAFFIC AND THE BRANCHES IS NOT FROM PROPERTY TAX. 
          IT IS FROM VEHICLE REGISTRATION. 
          SO MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX WILL ALLOWED INITIALLY WAS PROPERTY TAX. SO JUST MADE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND TO SET REMINDERS. 
          HOPING TO SEE A DECREASE IN TRAFFIC AND BRANCHES WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THIS PRIORITY PASSED THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE MY HARRIS COUNTY TAX PLATFORM BUT AUTO SIGN OF IT. 
          BUT MORESO WE WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN FOOT TRAFFIC WHEN WE OPENED OUR FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES WHICH IS A PROCESS WE ARE ABOUT TO KICK OFF AND DO AN RFP FOR THAT IN HOPELY EARLY 
          2027. >> THANK YOU. 
          SO HARRIS COUNTY RECENTLY DID A FULL INVENTORY AS YOU TOOK OFFICE. HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE WAS ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS OPERATIONS. 
          OF THE FOUR MAIN PROGRAMS, ARE THERE ANY YOU THINK ARE STILL OPERATING BELOW THEIR SERVICE LEVEL? AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE FOR INVESTING IN THIS 
          PROGRAMS? >> SO COMMISSIONER'S COURT DID INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE TAX OFFICE LAST YEAR. 
          BUT WE ARE STILL NOT AT THE STAFFING LEVELS THAT WE NEED. 
          IN ORDER TO MEET ALL OF OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
          AND SO I WILL TELL YOU IT'S THE AUTO DIVISION THAT IS LACKING THE NECESSARY STAFFING. HISTORICALLY THAT DIVISION WAS STAFFED BY TEMPORARY WORKERS. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE COURT'S SUPPORT IN ALLOWINGTOUS CONVERT THE AUTO EMPLOYEES THAT WERE TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT EMPLOYEES. 
          AND HOPES OF STABILIZING NETWORK FORCE IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB AND VERY COMPLEX. WE HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THAT AREA. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHERE WE DO CREATE SOME STABILITY NETWORK FORCE AND ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THE COUNTY-- THE FINANCIAL POSITION THE COUNTY IS IN GOING INTO 2027 IS WHY WE DECIDED TO BRING IN FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES TO THE COUNTY. TO BE ABLE TO MINIMIZE THAT FOOT TRAFFIC FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO STILL WANT TO VISIT OUR OFFICE. THEY CAN DO THAT AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE A LOWER WAIT TIME. BUT GETTING FOLKS OTHER OPTIONS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE IFS THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO ONE OF THESE FULL SERVICE DEPUTY LOCATIONS. 
          >> DO OTHER COUNTIES USE FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES. 
          THE OTHER. >> YES THE OTHER LARGE COUNTIES ARE BEAR AND EL PASO BOTH USE FULL SERVICE DEPUTIES. 
          >> OKAY GREAT. THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> YES, THANK YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. GIVEN YOUR OPTIONS OPERATION BUDGET IMPACTED BY STATE LEGISLATION, AHEAD OF THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS THAT MAY IMPACT ABILITY TO SERVE RESIDENTSER TO COST TO DO SO? 
          THANK YOU. >> SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE STATUTORY FUNCTIONS THAT OUR OFFICE HAS. 
          THERE'S ALWAYS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF BILLS THAT DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAX. THAT DEAL WITH VOTER REGISTRATION. NOT AS MANY FOR AUTO. 
          SO WE'LL MONITOR THOSE AND SEE HOW THEY IMPACT THE PROPERTY TAX PERSPECTIVE. MORE OF AN OPERATIONAL LIFT. 
          WHAT CHANGES AND PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE. IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEW STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS WHETHER THAT'S AN INCREASE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OR INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE AGE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE. TO MAKE SURE THOSE WOULD GET IMPLEMENTED TIMELY AND WITH ENOUGH TIME. 
          FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION, WE'RE ALWAYS MONITORING THE SEE WHAT THE SECRETARY STATE OR WHAT DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS ARE DOING. WE HAD MONITORED THE HEARINGS. 
          SO FAR THERE HADN'T BEEN TOO MUCH WE'VE SEEN. 
          STILL HAPPEN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. 
          WE WILL MONITOR THAT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          >> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR VACANT POSITIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR '26? AND HOW OR WHEN YOU ARE 
          PLANNING TO STAFF UP? >> IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT AS I MENTIONED. TO DECREASE THE TURNOVER IN OUR OFFICE. IT'S A COMBINATION OF FACTORS 
          [02:10:01]
AND THE PAY EQUITY STUDY SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED OUR OFFICE. WE ARE HOPING THAT IT WILL STABILIZE OUR WORK FORCE. BECAUSE THE WORK AND PARTICULARLY OUR FRONT LINE STAFF DO. 
          PARTICULARLY AROUND THE TITLE TRANSACTIONS. 
          IT'S A VERY COMPLEX. AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT WORK, RIGHT? AND THEY CAN LEAVE AND GO FIND A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT'S NOT AS DIFFICULT THAT PAYS THEM MORE. AND SO APART FROM THAT IN HOPING THAT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY STABILIZES THAT WORK FORCE, WE ALSO PURPOSELY KEPT SEVERAL POSITIONS OPEN. 
          BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY WAS GOING TO RAISE THEIR SALARIES TO A FAIR WAGE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY ATTRACT THE TYPE OF TALL THANT WE NEED TO DO THIS WORK. 
          AND SO MANY OF THOSE POSITIONS WE PURPOSELY KEPT OPEN WAITING FOR THIS STUDY TO BE COMPLETE. AS AN EXAMPLE I CAN TELL YOU OUR HR WAS OPERATING AS HALF CAPACITY. 
          WAITING FOR THE EQUITY STUDY SO WE COULD ACTUALLY HIRE HR PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN ASSIST US WITH OVER 500 FOLK WORK FORCE. AND SO WE ARE-- IT IS A PRIORITY FOR US, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY LEADERSHIP MEETING THAT WE HAVE. 
          HOW QUICKLY AND THE FOCUS THAT WE HAVE ON MAKING SURE THAT 
          THESE POSITIONS GET FILLED. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          CAN YOU PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR YOUR REVENUE OFFSET 
          SUBMISSIONS? >> SO THE NEW PROPERTY TAX JURISDICTION FEE. WE OF COURSE. 
          THE TAXING ENTITIES THAT WE COLLECT TAXES FOR. 
          THEY PAY US A FEE. AND SO THAT AGREE HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2007. SO WE REDID THAT AND THOSE WILL GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1. THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THAT MANAGES OUR TITLE SERVICE COMPANIES GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 15TH. THE AUTO TRANSACTION INCREASE IS AN ONGOING CHANGE THAT'S CURRENTLY ALREADY IN EFFECT. 
          AND IN THE SPORTS AUTHORITY HOT CONTRACT WE REDID THOSE FEES AS WELL. IT IS SITTING AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW. THE SPORTS AUTHORITY IS ANTICIPATING WE'VE MET WITH THEM ALREADY. 
          >> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. COMMENTED THAT SOME OF THE REVENUE GENERATING ITEMS WILL BE RECURRING. 
          FOR THE AUTO TRANSACTIONS INCREASED DUE TO THE INCREASE TO KEEP MATERIALIZING IN THE FUTURE? 
          >> NO. THOSE ARE SET FEES. 
          >> OKAY. AND FOR THE TITLE SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, WILL WE SEE THE ENTIRE 380,000 IN 
          FISCAL YEAR '27? >> WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. SO THE WAY THOSE WORK IS EVERY-- IT'S A ROLLING EXPIRATION. 
          SO ALL OUR TITLE SSS HAVE A DIFFERENT RENEWAL TIME FRAME. 
          THEY DON'T ALL RENEW AT ONE TIME. 
          AND IT ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW MANY RENEW. 
          I WILL TELL YOU THAT TITLE SERVICES, WHEN I HAD GOT INTO OFFICE. IT WAS OVER 1500. 
          WE HAVE DECREASED THAT NUMBER. AND SO WE'LL SEE HOW MANY RENEWALS WE RECEIVE FROM THOSE IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 
          >> OKAY, THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. 
          PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. CARLA VALUEN ZWA LA POLICY MANAGER FOR ADMINISTRATION INTERNAL AFARRIS. 
          GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM. 
          TAX ASSESSOR. THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE. AND FOR BEING VERY HELP NFL PROVIDING INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS. IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. 
          I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON JUST A BIT. I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT ANY LEGISLATIVE-- ANY LEGISLATION THAT HAS COME OUT. 
          DUH MENTION YOUR INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED ABOUT SBA50. 
          ARE THERE ANY OTHER LEGISLATIVE MANDATES THAT REQUIRE FUNDING FOR FY27. OR IS IT GOING TO BE AS YOU SAY, MONITOR WHATEVER MIGHT COME OUT IN THE NEXT SESSION. 
          IN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, WE WERE GIVEN FUNDING FOR THE STATUTORY SBA50 ALREADY. 
          THOSE WERE ALREADY INCLUDE NOURD LEVEL OF SS. 
          WE ONLY ALLOW VOTER REGISTRATION NEW CARDS EVERY OTHER YEAR. SO WE DID THAT EARLIER. 
          [02:15:11]
THE YEARS IN WHICH WE DO MAIL OUT CARDS THAT MONEY IS PUT INTO OUR BUDGET AND IF WE DON'T MAIL OUT THAT MONEY IS NOT USED IN OUR BUDGET. NO IT'S NOT. 
          IT'S EVERY OTHER YEAR. HOW FAR ALONG IS IT IN THE PROCESS. A LOT OF DATA, RIGHT. 
          FROM ONE SYSTEM TO THE NEXT. IT'S CONSISTENT. 
          SIMULTANEOUSLY. NOVEMBER OF '26. 
          >> SO YOU TALKED ABOUT WORKING WITH THE VENDOR. 
          IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE DOING INCREMENTAL PAYMENTS? 
          THROUGHOUT THIS OR NEXT YEAR? >> SO THERE WAS AN IMPLEMENTATION COST PLUS A ONE YEAR FEE FOR THIS YEAR. 
          I THINK WAS IT 2.3? YEAH. 
          THERE WAS A HIGHERER INITIAL COST. 
          RECURRING IS 1. MILLION A YEAR. >> OKAY THANK YOU. 
          >> JUST TO CLARIFY MAJORITY OF THE STARTING COSTS ARE BEING 
          CAPITALIZED. >> WE DID USE CIP FUNDS. 
          >> OKAY, GOOD. AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS ON THAT. WHAT PERCENT DODGE WE EXPECT TO RECOVER FROM THE STATE REIMBURSEMENT. 
          AND HOW MUCH RECOVERED IN FY26 AND FY27. 
          >> FROM THE YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW MANY ELECTIONS WE HAVE AND HOW-- SO HOUR CHAPTER 19 FUNDS ARE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT WE ADD TO THE ROLE. AND THEN WE GET PAID SO MANY CENTS FOR VOTER THAT WE ADD AND THAEN LITTLE MORE FOR EVERY VOTER THAT WE MOVE FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE. 
          THAT AMOUNT EBBS AND FLOWS. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE AS OF I GUESS RIGHT NOW REIMBURSED $520,000. AND WE CONTINUE TO SUBMIT INVOICES. WE CANNOT USE CHAPTER 19 FUNDS TO PAY FOR OUR PERMANENT EMPLOYEES. 
          WE CAN ONLY USE CHAPTER 19 FOUNDZ PAY FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. AND THEN ANY OTHER SOFTWARE COSTS THAT-- IT WON'T PAY FOR OUR FULL SOFTWARE. 
          BUT WE CAN SUBMIT THOSE KINDS OF EXPENSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. 
          WE WILL NOW WORK FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. 
          PRECINCT FOUR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 24 
          SECONDS REMAINING. >> THANK YOU. 
          A FOLLOW-UP FOR THE COST RECOVERY. 
          YOU MENTIONED IT'S OVER 80 JURISDICTIONS THAT WE PARTNER WITH TO SUPPORT FOR TAX COLLECTION. 
          CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW YOU HAVE ENGAGED JURISDICTIONS WHO WILL SEE THOSE INCREASES WHETHER THAT'S JUST COMMUNICATIONS E-MAIL. YOU'VE MET WITH THEM. 
          CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ENGAGEMENT? 
          >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ENGAGED WITH-- IT WAS 12 TO 13 OF THE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE OF $50,000 OR MORE. THE BALANCE OF THE JURISDICTIONS WERE SEEING AN INCREASE BELOW $50,000. 
          AND SO WE GOT ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AND WE CALLED THEM AND WE LET THEM KNOW TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH. 
          AND WHY IT NEEDED TO INCREASE. AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUSHBACK FROM ANY OF THEM. SOME DID ASK FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. WE SENT THOSE SUPPORTING 
          DOCUMENTS TO THEM. >> THANK YOU. 
          AND A FOLLOW-UP. YOU MENTIONED THE IMPACT OF THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY IMPACTING OVER 88% OF YOUR STAFF HAVE RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF ADJUSTMENT. 
          RECOGNIZING AS WE PREPARE AND HEAD INTO POSSIBLEY PHASE TWO 
          [02:20:03]
OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT EXERCISE AND THEN ALSO IN TERMS OF THE BILINGUAL PAY INCENTIVE PROGRAM. HOW HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT 
          UTILIZED THAT? >> TO ADD THAT WE SENT LETERS TO ALL OF THOSE TAXING ENTITIES AS WELL. 
          SO THE HISTORIC INVESTMENT AND PAY EQUITY BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IMPACTED 88% OF OUR TAX OFFICE EMPLOYEES. THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT. 
          WE DID-- AND I WILL GIVE KUDOS TO MY STAFF WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH HRT AND GALLINGER AND MANY MANY, MANY MEETINGS WITH THEM. ADVOCATING FOR OUR STAFF AND EXPLAINING THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AND THE PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE. 
          AND SO WE WILL MONITOR THAT AND WE HAD A FEW WE WERE GOING BACK TO REVISIT TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER. 
          IT'S LESS THAN 10, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT. AS FAR AS THE BILINGUAL PAY, AS I MENTIONED, OUR HR DEPARTMENT IS STILL OPERATING AS HALF STAFF. AND WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT THOSE ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS. BUT IT IS A GOAL OF OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY AND GET THAT ADDITIONAL PAY. AS WE DO HAVE MANY BRANCHS THAT WE NEED FOLKS WHO ARE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH AND ANY OTHER LANGUAGES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON THAT ARE PREVALENT IN 
          THE AREA. >> THANK YOU. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. HUH 1:47 REMAINING. 
          >> NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          PRECINCT 402 HAD NO TIME REMAINING. 
          SO THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE QUESTIONS PORTION. 
          TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR RAMIREZ YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR 
          CLOSING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU AGAIN JUDGE COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. 
          OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE TAX OFFICE DELIVERED ON THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE TO THIS COURT. 
          WE MODERNIZEDED SERVICES. REDUCED THE STATUTORY COMPLIANCE GAP FOR COMMERCIAL TITLE PROCESSING. 
          AND GENERATED MEASURABLE FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE COUNTY. THESE WERE NOT INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS. THEY REFLECT SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE THAT OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON. 
          OUR REQUEST IS NOT AN EXPANSION. 
          IT IS A REQUEST TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY BUILT AND TO KEEP DELIVERING CONSISTENTLY. 
          I APPRECIATE THIS COURT'S CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR MISSION AND I'M PROUD THE PROGRESS THE TEAM HAS MADE AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON SUSTAINING IT. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX 
          ASSESSOR CLEBLTHER'S OFFICE. >> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. 
          [Institute of Forensic Sciences]
          [02:26:06]
WELCOME BACK COURT OFFICES. IT IS 12:45 P.M. AND WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WHICH WILL COME FROM THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. 
          THIS TEAM HAS ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR FIVE MINUTE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS UP FRONT. THEN EACH COURT OFFS WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. WHEN YOU'RE READY. 
          >> HELLO. THAT WOULD HELP. 
          HI MY NAME IS DR. PRAMOD GUMPENI CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT IFS. WITH ME IS MR. LEE PRYAN OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CHIEF OF STAFF. 
          I WAS HERE LAST YEAR WITH ALL OF YOU FOR THE SAME BUDGET SCOMBREER LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE MAINTAINED OVERALL EXCELLENT TURNOUT TIMES ACROSS ALL OF OUR SERVICES. 
          WE HAVE DONE THIS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN POSITIONS. WITHOUT ADEQUATE INCREASE IN OVERALL OPERATING BUDGET. AND WITHOUT ACROSS THE BOARD SAL EHRIE INCREASES SINCE 2023. OUR OFFICE IS COMPOSED OF ALMOST 87% SCIENTISTS AND STAFF WORKING ON ACTUAL CASE LOAD AND CASE WORK. THOUGH ONLY 13% BEING ADMIN OR PEER MANAGEMENT. OUR BUDGET IS PREDOMINANTLY LABOUR DOLLARS GOING TO CASE WORK SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS WITH ONLY 17% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET GOING TO OPERATIONS. 
          THE FORENSIC SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS THAT WE EMPLOY ARE NOT EASILY REPLACED. POSITIONS REQUIRE BEING OPEN FOR LONGER THAN COUNTY AVERAGES TO ATTRACT AND FIND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT THOUGH WHERE WE ARE OPERATING AT CAPACITY. 
          WE DID ASK FOR 350,000 OF COS REQUESTS FOR FY27 WHICH WERE NOT APPROVED. THIS IS AN EFFECT A CUT TO OUR BUDGETING CAPACITY. THIS WILL AFFECT OUR TURN AROUND TIMES. AND THE QUALITY OF REPORTS WE PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS AND CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AS WELL AS OUR STAKE HOLDERS WHICH INCLUDE MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEANCEIES, PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND THE D.A.'S OFFICE. THIS AFFECTS COULD CASCADE DOWN TO INCREASE JAILTIMES, INCREASE JAIL POPULATION, AND INCREASE BURDEN ON THE COURT SYSTEM. IN ADDITION FAMILIES WILL BE WAITING EVEN LONGER FOR EXAMINATION REPORTS AND TOXICOLOGY RESULTS. I WILL SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR STAFF, WE WILL BE PROTECTING OUR STAFF AND PEOPLE AT ALL COSTS SO IN YOUR REDUCTIONS WOULD GO TO NON-LEVER AREAS FIRST. OUR FORCE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS INCLUDE CONTRACTOR PATHOLOGISTS TO SUPPORT OUR M.E. SIDE AND TO RECTIFY OUR OVER BURDENED CASE LOAD THERE FOR WHICH WE ARE PUSHING UP AGAINST ONE SOLE TURN AROUND TIME METRIC THAT IS MANDATED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATED MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR ACCREDITATION. OUT OF OVER 350 METRICS THAT THEY IMPOSE UPON US. ANOTHER SERVICE ENHANCEMENT IS FOR A LONG OVERDUE STAFF RETENTION PAY ADJUST TOMENT AVOID FURTHER ATTRITION TO NEIGHBOURING OFFICES AND JURISDICTIONS. OF THESE HARD TO FIND QUALIFIED SCIENTISTS. IN ADDITION, WE ASK FOR A NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL FOR ONE OF OUR HARDEST JOBS IN OUR OFFICE. 
          THAT OF INVESTIGATIONS IN THE TRANSPORT DIVISION. 
          THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK 24/7 TO ACTUALLY GO TO DEATH SCENES AND TRANSPORT THESE FROM THE DE CEASED FROM THE SCENES TO OUR OFFICE OF EXAMINATION. THIS TAKES A VERY CERTAIN KIND OF FOERN FILL THESE ROLES AND AGAIN WE ARE REQUESTING CO SFLT FUNDING THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN ABSORB WITHIN OUR OPERATING BUDGET. THREE BUDGET OFFICES HAVE BEEN OFFERED. REDUCTION SPENDING ON SUPPLIES. 
          A MAJORITY OF THAT BUDGET IS DNA SUPPLIES WHICH INCLUDE SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS. CRIMES AGAINST PERSON. 
          THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE LOSS OF GREAT FUNDING OFFICER WHICH IS ANOTHER 900,000. WE ASK THAT THE TWO AME POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING ASKED FOR THE BUDGET OFFSET TO HAVE FUNDING REMOVEED. 
          BUT PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE PCN ITSELF. 
          LIKE I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THESE POSITIONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL. AND HAVING THE PCN AVAILABLE IS PARAMOUNT TO FILLING THE ROLE AND BRINGING THE CASE LOAD AND 
          [02:30:02]
TURN AROUND TIMES BACK TO HIGH QUALITY LEVELS. 
          TOE SUMMARIZE, WE'RE ASKING FOR A BUDGET TO CONTINUE OUR WORK THROUGH THE CITIZENS IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION TO SERVICES AND SUPPLIES AND A BUDGET THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE OUR UNIQUE SITUATION OF REQUIRING VERY HIGHLY SKILLED TRAINED SCIENTISTS THAT ARE NOT EASILY REPLACED. 
          WE HAVE A RELATIVELY SMALL OFFICE COMPARED TO MANY OTHER PARTS OF HARRIS COUNTY BUT WE ARE VERY LEAN. 
          WE RUN A VERY TIGHT SHIP. AND ANY MAJOR OFFICE WILL BE FELT GREATLY ACROSS THE COUNTY. EEL RETURN THIS TIME BACK TO 
          THE COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU DR. GUMPENI. 
          >> BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY'S OFFICE. 
          >> GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN. THANK YOU GOING BR HERE. 
          I KNOW AS MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CAN YOU SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THOSE CHALLENGES A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THE RETENTION INCENTIVE OF 3% AS THE BEST OPTION FROM ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE. AND DOES THAT INCLUDE A--. 
          >> YES, IT DOES. SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE I BELIEVE 28 OPEN POSITIONS. FOUR OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RECENTLY FILLED. AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOVERING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8.8% AND 10%. WHICH IS IS A PROBLEM GIVEN THE DIFFICULTY OF FUNDING AND FINDING SOME OF F THESE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SUCH AS THE ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINER POSITIONS. OF NOTE, WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE DO HAVE TWO NEW AMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE STARTING IN THE COMING MONTHS. HOWEVER ANY BACKLOG AS AN INSTANT TURN AROUND. TAKES MONTHS FOR THAT EFFECT OF BEING FELT TO BRING ON NEW STAFF. 
          ESPECIAL NAE SCIENCE CASE LOAD TYPE ATMOSPHERE. 
          FOR THE OTHER DIVISIONS SUCH AS THE CRIME LAB, FIREARMS, LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE AT CAPACITY. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE OPEN POSITIONS TO TRY AND MAINTAIN THAT CAPACITY. 
          AND ACCOUNT FOR ANY INCREASES THAT MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING. 
          >> I BELIEVE YOU TOUCHED ON THIS AS WELL REGARDING ACCREDITATION. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN ANOTHER ONGOING CHALLENGE AND MEETING IN THE REQUIREMENT THAT 90% OF AUTOPSY REPORTS BE COMPLETED WITHIN 90 DAYS. 
          CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THOSE CHALLENGES? AND WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION. AND COMFORTABLY WE'RE NOT YOU 
          TOING THAT LINE. >> OVER THE YEAR WE'VE RECENTLY JUST HAD OUR CREATION COMPLETED. 
          SINCE THEN BEEN PUSHING FORTH THE USE OF RCT SCANNER. 
          THAT IS GREATLY HELPED IN REDUCING OUR AUTOPSY NUMBERS AND REFERS TO EXAMINATIONS WHERE WE CAN LEGITIMATELY OFFER QUALITY RESULTS. A REDUCTION IN THE CASE LOAD TIME. ONE OF THE BING THINGS WE MENTIONED WAS SOURCE ENHANCEMENT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OFFLOADING THOSE REPORTS OFF OF THE STAFF. 
          ALLOWED THOME CATCH UP IN A TIMELY FASHION. 
          HOWEVER-- WE'VE BEEN PUTTING FORTH THAT EFFORT SINCE MARCH. 
          WE'RE GOING THROUGH PURCHASING. AND THAT'S TAKEN TIME TO BRING ON THE LOCOM CONTRACT PATHOLOGISTS TO HELP OUT OUR STAFF. WE ARE JUST NOW RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGE THAMENT WE CAN BRING ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE SIX WE'VE STARTED CONTRACT WORK WITH. 
          I'M SORRY WHAT WAS THE REST OF YOUR QUESTION? 
          >> IT WAS-- CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES AND WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT DANGER ZONE 
          ESSENTIALLY. >> YEAH THE DANGER ZONE IS REALLY EXTRA. HAVING ACTUAL AME STAFF WOULD BE THE UTMOST AND PARAMOUNT TO KILLING OUR CASE LOAD ISSUE. 
          THE LOCOM IS THE STOPGAP. THERE'S JUST A STOPGAP MEASURE AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN SERVICE ENHANCEMENT FOR THEM. 
          >> THANK YOU. WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE LEFT, CAN YOU SPEAK BRIEFLY TO SOME OF THE GREATEST 
          ASSESSMENTS? >> PUTTING ASIDE LAST WEEK IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. MAKING SURE THESE ARE PRIORITIZED. COUNTY JAIL DEBTS AS WELL AS DRUG CHEMISTRY TESTING FOR THE CURRENT JAIL INHABITANTS. 
          PUSHED THOSE TO THE FOREFRONTS. REPORTS ON THE DRUG TESTING FOR ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY ON BOND. 
          TRYING TO SUPPORT MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT CHANGES THAT WE CAN. WITH OUR TESTING THERE AS WELL. 
          >> THANK YOU. I'LL RESERVE MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          [02:35:01]
PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES. 
          >> YEAH. SPENCER LIVELY WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. 
          REGARDING THE PROJECT. IS THAT ON TRACK TO FINISH 
          BEFORE THE GRANT EXPIRES? >> YES. 
          SO -- THE COMPLETION OF THE GRANT BEFORE THE DEADLINE. 
          THE DESIGN PHASE WAS PUT ON HOLD BY ENGINEERING IN MARCH. 
          IF EVERYTHING MOVES FORWARD. WE PLAN TO HAVE DESIGN COMPLETED FAIRLY RAPIDLY IN RFP FOR CONSTRUCTION. 
          OUR OFFICE DOES PRO PRO JEKT THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ISSUE 
          MEETING THE DEADLINE. >> DO ANTICIPATE MEETING ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEYOND WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE GRANT. 
          AND YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE. 
          >> WE'VE RECENTLY PUT IN AN RC IFLT BACK IN JUNE BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SO I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEING REQUIRED. THE NUMBERS THAT WE PUT FORTH. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET OFFSETS. DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY OF THOSE IF APPROVED COULD RESULT IN DELAYS FOR CASE PROCESSING OR RESULT IN LONGER PRE-TRIAL DETENTION? 
          >> YES, SO ONE OF THE PROPOSED OFFSETS WAS APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION IN SUPPLIES. ACROSS THE BOARD. 
          OUR ENTIRE OFFICE BUDGET FOR SUPPLIES IS $2.5 MILLION. 
          AND OFFSET OF THAT MAGNITUDE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 80% OF OUR TOTAL SUPPLY FOR THE OFFICE TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ASSAULT TESTING. WOULD INCLUDE CRIMES AGAINST PERSON. INCLUDE DRUG CHEMISTRY TESTING OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE AWAITING TESTING OF THE SEIZED DRUGS OR SEIZED ANYTHING THAT WAS FOUND ON THEM. 
          FIREARMS TESTING WOULD DELAY TESTING FOR ALL OF THAT. 
          SO YEAH A PROFOUND EFFECT. NOT JUST PEOPLE IN JAIL. 
          BUT JUST EVERYONE IN GENERAL. >> WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IFS LOSING ITS ACCREDITATION? 
          >> MAINLY IT WOULD BE THAT THERE WOULD BE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BILLION COURT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF THE NATURE OF ACCREDITATION. IS REALLY A STATEMENT OR STANDARD OF QUALITY. HOWEVER OUR OFFICE HAS HAD A HIGHER STANDARD OF QUALITY. I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REAPPLY GIVEN-- IF WE HAVE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR LOCOMS. EVEN IF WE DID LOSE ACCREDITATION IN OCTOBER, I HAVE A VERY STRONG FEELING WE WILL REAPPLY THE NEXT YEAR AND BE ABLE TO BE FULLY ACCREDITED AGAIN. 
          >> WORK ON BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY THAT YOU HAVE REQUESTED WHICH COULD HELP REDUCE CASE PROCESSING TIMES IN 
          PRETRIAL EXTENSION? >> AS FAR AS-- WELL STAFF RETENTION IS OVERALL ALWAYS AN TOISH REDUCE ATTRITION RATE WHICH WOULD PREVENT AN INCREASE IN CASE LOAD BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING SCIENTISTS. T THE-- ONE OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS WAS FORENSIC GENETICS AND THAT WOULD BE IN EXPANSION TO COVER SOME OF THE LOSSES IN TERMS OF WHAT SEEING WITH THE GRANTS AND OTHER OFFSETS. IN TERMS OF LUCKILY NONE OF THESE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS WOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT SPECIFICALLY DRUG CHEMISTRY OR TOXICOLOGY. 
          BUT THE EFFECTS WOULD BE FELT OVERALL. 
          >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. 
          TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> SORRY. BEFORE WE SWITCH. 
          JUST WANT TO ADD THAT WILL WORK REALLY CLOSELY TO MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION. SOME OF THE PROCESSES TO MAKE SPECIAL. FOR IFS FOR EXAMPLE THE HIRING FREEZE. WHAT WE'VE ELIMINATED VACANT POSITIONS. AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE IN THERE. 
          THREE YEARS AGO. FOUR YEARS AGO. 
          THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH AMES TO FUND IT TO ACTUALLY MAKE ACCREDITATIONS CANADA TO BE TO FUND THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. SO WE ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THAT. WE KEEP VERY CLOSE MONITOR. 
          ON WHEN THOSE REPORTS COME OUT INTO OUR OFFICE. 
          WHO IN TURN THAT WILL PRESENT OPTIONS TO MAINTAIN IT IN CLS. 
          >> PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. HEATHER CRUZ WITH PRECINCT TWO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME FIREARMS TESTING QUESTIONS. 
          COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH THE CURRENT ISSUES  OF FIREARMS TESTING IN OUR WHOLE REGION. HOW INCREASING THE SALARIES FOR EMPLOYEES HANDLING THAT WORK MIGHT HELP SOLVE SOME OF THOSE 
          [02:40:02]
BACKLOGS. WHAT DO WE NEED TO CHANGE AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE COURTS GETTING 
          THESE CASES TO DRAW? >> SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE ARE FIREARMS IN SUBMISSIONS OF TESTING HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTRE AND CASES. 
          THOSE CASES ARE STILL TRIED NEAR HARRIS COUNTY. 
          SO THE DA'S SAUFS SEEING PROBLEMS IN GETTING THOSE CASES AND GET THAT EVIDENCE TESTED IN A TIMELY FASHION. 
          LIKE I MENTIONED CURRENTLY OUR FIREARMS LAB IS AT CAPACITY. 
          ANY INCREASE IN TESTING WOULD RESULT IN DELAYS AND TESTING OF THE TESTING WE ALREADY HAVE FOR HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CASES AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ARE SUBMITTING TO US. SO NE KIND OF INKREIS IN TESTING FOR THE FIREARMS DIVISION WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED IN A WAY TO PROPERLY SUPPORT THEM BOTH WITH STAFF OF WHICH WE HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS IN FIREARMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL. BUT HAVE VERY LONG OPEN PERIODS RIGHT NOW. AS WELL AS FINANCIAL SUPPORT. 
          THE SUPPORT THAT DIVISION IN TERMS OF SUPPLIES AS WELL AS SEEING THAT INCREASE CASE LOAD FOR ANY CASES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO SUPPORT HFSC AND THE D.A.'S OFFICE ADDITIONALLY. 
          >> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE BACKLOGS IN EVIDENCE PROCESSING. 
          >> EVIDENCE PROCESSING SIDE. THE REST OF OUR DIVISIONS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE. BUT AGAIN WE ARE AT CAPACITY TO 
          REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. >> THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR BOTH. PROBABLY MORE FOR DANIEL. 
          SO DANIEL IFS WANTS TO RAISE THE SALARY. 
          WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LIKE. HOW DOES THE DEPARTMENT COME BEFORE THE COURT AND GET APPROVAL FOR AN INCREASE IN SALARIES AND SPECIFICALLY TARGETED HARD TO FILL SPOTS. 
          >> SO THERE'S KIND OF TWO ROUTES. 
          ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE SECOND PHASE OF THE GALLAGHER SETTING. THE SECOND IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHICH IS TO SUBMIT A SERVICE ENHANCEMENT AS PART OF IT. BECAUSE AS A REMINDER, DURING CLS, WE DO NOT CONSIDER ANY INCREASES TO STAFF. 
          UNLESS THEY ARE LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED. 
          OR ANY SALARY INCREASES. THAT'S YOU KNOW EXPLICIT IN THE S.O.P. THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COURT. 
          >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS IF I EVER RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU PRESTWOINGTH. THREE YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE 
          MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON GUYS. 
          NICE TO MEET YOU. CHIEF NICE TO BE HERE. 
          MY NAME IS NICK WATACOM WITH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE. 
          OVER OUR FLEET BUDGET. THEY CALL IT GENERAL SERVICES. 
          ANYWAY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ATTRITION IF YOU DON'T MIND. WHICH DIVISIONS ARE YOU EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST TURNOVER IN? 
          >> THE HIGHEST TURNOVER TENDS TO BE INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. 
          WHICH IS CONSISTS OF THE DEATH INVESTIGATORS AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTERS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS WE ASKED FOR THE DIVISION TO HELP EASE THAT. 
          THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING THERE. 
          BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS WE HEAR IS THAT IT'S REALLY HARD, LABORIOUS, MANUAL LABER THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING. TRANSPORTING PEOPLE AT 2 A.M. 
          IN THE MORNING FROM-- DEATH SCENE OR A HOSPITAL. 
          THAT'S WHY THAT SERVICE ENHANCEMENT WAS ASKED FOR FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. OTHER DIVISIONS ARE THE DNA LAB. FORENSIC GENETICS. 
          AS WELL AS SOME OF THE TOXICOLOGY AND IN TRACE EVANS. 
          >> OKAY. SORRY-- AND HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE CASE LOGS. BACKLOGS. 
          TURN AROUND TIMES AND STOFS LAW ENFORCEMENT? 
          >> ANY REMOVAL OF PEOPLE FROM ANY DIVISION-- IF THERE ARE SCIENTISTS. WORKING ON CASE. 
          THEIR WORK HAS TO BE TURFED OFF ONTO ANOTHER SCIENTIST. 
          AND SO THAT JUST EXTENDS THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO WORK ON A CASE IF YOU JUST HAVE LESS PEOPLE WORKING ON A CASE. 
          SO OVERALL, ANY REDUCTION IN SCIENTISTS WILL LEAD AN 
          INCREASE IN TURN AROUND TIME. >> OKAY. 
          DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO BE DONE BESIDES THE SERVICE-- I'M SORRY, THE PAY RAISES TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE 
          ATTRITION? >> UH-- I MEAN REDUCING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTY. 
          BUT THAT'S A-- YOU KNOW WORLD PEACE. 
          >> I'M ALL FOR THAT. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. 
          >> OTHER THAN THAT. >> THAT'S A JOKE. 
          YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. 
          >> OH, OKAY. >> OKAY SO-- I'M NOT REAL FAMILIAR WITH THE TIME. BUT LOCOM, CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS. AND TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW MANY OF OUR HARRIS PEOPLE ARE BEING USED. 
          KIND OF EXPLAIN THE WHOLE CONCEPT AND WHY WE'RE DOING IT 
          [02:45:01]
          THAT WAY. >> SO IN 21/'22. 
          MAKING IT OUR STAFF A MARKED REDUCTION IN STAFFING DUE TO ATTRITION. PEOPLE RETIRING LOOKING FOR VARIOUS REASONS. WE WENT DOWN FROM 18 MEDICAL EXAMINERS DOWN TO NINE. IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND A HALF. SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN BUILDING IT BACK UP. CURRENTLY WE'RE ONLY AT 14 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 18 THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. 
          THAT WE NEED. LOCOMS ARE A SHORT-TERM STOPGAP MEASURE WHERE YOU BRING IN A CONTRACT PATHOLOGIST TO HANDLE AUTOPSIES OF A CERTAIN NATURE. THE QUOTE UNQUOTE, I WON'T SAY EASIER BUT LESS CHALLENGING. THEY DO NOT HANDLE HOMICIDE. 
          THEY DO NOT HANDLE PEDIATRIC DEATHS. 
          THEY ONLY HANDLE DEATHS. USUALLY TOXICOLOGY-- POTENTIAL NATURAL DEATHS OF THOSE NATURE THATNAL OUR JURISDICTION. 
          THEY ARE AGAIN CONTRACT PATHOLOGISTS. 
          THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO OUR S.O.P.S. 
          EXCEPT THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL THEIR-- YOU KNOW-- UNTRAINED IN OUR METHODS. TRAINED IN OUR METHODS QUICKLY WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD. THEY ARE A STOPGAP THAT WORK ON A CASE BY CASE AND PAID BY CASE BY CASE. 
          BEST WAY TO REDUCE OUR CASE LOAD TIME IS TO HAVE A HIRE A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINER INSTEAD OF USING 
          LOCOM'S PATHOLOGISTS. >> OKAY SO NOT TO TELL TOO MUCH ABOUT PRECINCT THREE, BUT THE DEPARTMENT THAT I OVERSEE, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT CAUSE MY DEPARTMENT MONEY. FOR EXAMPLE LIKE IF SOMEBODY WRECKS A FLEET VEHICLE. LIKE IT'S ON ME TO REPAIR IT SOMETIMES. AND-- OR IF ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WANTS SOME SOFTWARE. THAT THEY DIDN'T BUDGET FOR THEN THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY. DO YA'LL HAVE ANY INEFFICIENCIES LIKE THAT. WHERE LIKE WE COULD DO SOME 
          IMPROVEMENT? >> LIKE I SAID, WE RUN A VERY TIGHT SHIP. ALL THE OFFICES WE HAVE A VERY MULTIPLE DISCIPLINARY APPROACH. SO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING PATHOLOGIST WE'RE CONSTANTLY COORDINATING WITH THE-- TOXICOLOGY LAB. WE'RE IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE INVESTIGATION SERVICES. 
          ON THE CRIME LAB SIDE, THE EVIDENCE DEPARTMENT IS CLOSELY INTERTWINED. WITH THE GENETICS. 
          THE CRIME-- TOXICOLOGY LAB. TRACE CHEMISTRY. 
          EVERYTHING IS HIGHLY INTEGRATED. 
          SO WE DON'T-- WE USUALLY TRY TO E LIMB NATE MOST OF THE 
          INEFFICIENCIES UP FRONT. >> OKAY. 
          AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT OVERTIME. 
          AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU USING TO OFFSET-- I GUESS THE STAFF 
          BEING SHORT? >> WE DO HAVE A BACKLOG GRANT THAT OFFSETS AND A FIREARMS GRANT THAT OFFSETS SOME OF THE OVERTIME. THAT THOSE LABS CAN USE. 
          BUT WE DON'T HAVE OVERTIME IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S SIDE. 
          >> THANK YOU. I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> HELLO. 
          MO LE SAY-- ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER BEIRNESS I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOUR TEAM DO PROVIDE FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTY AND THE IMPACTS OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM'S WORK AT EVERY LEVEL OF YOUR DEPARTMENT OR THROUGHOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE DEDICATION AND ALL THE SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT STAFF. 
          SO JUST WANT TO START OFF WITH THAT. 
          CAN YOU PLEASE START BY DISCUSSING THE PAY EQUITY PROJECT AND HOW ANY OUTCOMES YOU'VE SEEN FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES 
          AND OPERATIONS? >> TO BE FRANK, WE SAW NOT A LOT. WE HAVE 300 OPEN POSITIONS. 
          ONLY SIX PEOPLE OUT OF THE 300 WERE AFFECTED BY THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. SO AS OF THE PHASE, THE FIRST PHASE I GUESS WE'RE IN NOW, WE SAW LESS THAN 5% EFFECT. 
          >> AND SINCE WE ARE IN THE TOPIC OF SALARY STUDIES, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY SALARY STUDIES DONE BY IFS RECENTLY AND HOW 
          MUCH WERE THOSE? >> WE ARE UNDERGOING OUR OWN SALARY STUDY SINCE GALLAGHER JUST COMPLETED AND WE ARE WAITING TO SEE THE AFFECTS OF THAT FIRST PHASE OF THE GALLAGHER STUDY. WE STARTED OUR OWN INTERNAL SALARY STUDY. OF OUR NEIGHBOURING AGE ANDSES INCLUDING ANYTHING FROM DPS TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO FORT BEN COUNTY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NUECES COUNTY. 
          WE'RE STILL GATH THARG DATA RIGHT NOW. 
          >> AND THERE WAS ALSO ONE COMPLETED IN 2023. 
          I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT $2.8 MILLION IN SALARIES THAT WERE 
          ALLOCATED. >> AND NOW ARE WE USING THOSE 
          FINDINGS? >> PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. 
          >> ANOTHER UPGRADE RECENTLY. THAT I READ WAS THE LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WHAT OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS HAS THAT UPGRADE DELIVERED? AND ARE WE STILL WORKING ON 
          [02:50:06]
          IMPLEMENTING THAT? >> WE ARE STILL WAITING ON INPLEMENTING. THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THAT. 
          IT'S ON HOLD BECAUSE THE VENDOR ISN'T ABLE TO APPLY RESOURCES SO THAT IS ON HOLD UNTIL THE VENDOR IS ABLE TO BEGIN THE WORK ON THE DNA SIDE. THE OTHER SIDE IS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER. CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS STILL GOING THROUGH PURCHASING AND THEN LIT HAVE TO GO TO COUNTY'S APPROVAL AND THEN COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          >> THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO NAP ALWAYS KNOW THAT CAN HELP MOVE THINGS FORWARD. 
          CAN YOU GENERALLY DISCUSS HOW FORENSIC TESTING DEMAND HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS? 
          >> IT GREATLY INCREASED DURING COVID. 
          WE'VE REACH SOMEWHATED OF A STEADY STATE. 
          FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO. 
          BUT THE BAD THING IS THAT THERE ARE FOR INSTANCE, NOVEL DRUGS. 
          THIS WAS PROVIDED IN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ONE OF THE MAJOR SLIDES IS NEW AND EMERGING DRUGS SUCH AS 70H MET-- CYCLE-- WHICH WE ARE SEEING BOTH SIDES OF THE OFFICE. 
          MEDICAL EXAMINER'S SIDE IN TERMS OF DECEASED DYING FROM OVERDOSES OF THESE DRUGS AS WELL AS SEEING IT IN THE SEIZED DRUGS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE DRUG CHEMISTRY SIDE AND IN THE TOXICOLOGY RESULTS. THOSE NEW DRUGS REQUIRE NEW METHODOLOGY TESTING. WE HAVE TO DEVELOP METHODS TO TEST FOR IT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T ASK YOU'LL NEVER SEE IT IF YOU DON'T TEST FOR IT. SO THAT REQUIRES MANPOWER AND OUR SCIENTISTS TO WORK ON DEVELOPING WAYS OF NOTICING THESE DRUGS. SEEING THESE DRUGS IN OUR TESTING. AS WELL AS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SERVICE FOR-- TEACHING OUR DEATH INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK FOR THESE NOVEL DRUGS AT THE SCENE. AND BEING AWARE OF IT DURING OUR EXAMINATIONS. . 
          >> WELL WE APPRECIATE YA'LL BEING-- YOU KNOW ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF ALL THESE THINGS. HALF OF THE STUFF IN THE REPORT HI NEVER EVEN HEARD OF. AND LASTLY, FOR THE FIREARMS LAB. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE GHOST GURNEYS THAT WERE MENTIONED? WHEN IT'S UNTRACEABLE. 
          OR WHAT STEPS HAPPEN? WHEN THOSE ARE SUBMITTED AS 
          SNEFD. >> THEY WORK UP THE GUN TO IDENTIFY IF THEY CAN'T FIND ANY KIND OF SERIAL NUMBER OR ANYTHING ON IT. ALL THE WORK IS DOWN HELP TRY TO IDENTIFY THE WEAPON. OH-- OKAY. 
          TRY TO IDENTIFY THE WEAPON. BUT IF THEY CAN'T, THEY CALL EIGHT GHOST-- IT'S UNSERIALIZED AND UNTRACEABLE. 
          I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT INFORMATION ONCE THEY REALIZE THAT IT'S A GHOST GUN. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          YOU HAD 53 SECONDS REMAINING. >> YOU MENTIONED I THINK IT WAS SIX STAFF MEMBERS WERE IMPACTED BY THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. 
          DID YOU EXPECT OR HOPE TO SEE MORE THAN THAT? 
          >> UH-- YES. >> FEEL FREE TO E LAB RATE A 
          LITTLE BIT. >> THE SIX PEOPLE WHERE-- YOU KNOW ENTRY LEVEL. THERE WAS-- HOW MANY SCIENTISTS. THERE WAS THREE SCIENTISTS I BELIEVE OR TWO-- YEAH ALL ENTRY LEVEL TECH NIXES ACTUALLY. 
          THAT WERE AFFECTED. NONE MID-LEVEL SCIENTISTS OR ANY HIGHER LEVEL SCIENTISTS WERE AFFECTED WHATSOEVER. 
          WE WERE HOPING THAT IT WOULD AFFECT MORE BUT IT DID NOT. 
          IT DIDN'T AFFECT ANYONE ON THE INVESTIGATION SIDE WHATSOEVER. 
          >> AND THE INVESTIGATION SIDE-- YOU PARTICULARLY HAVE ISSUES 
          THERE WITH THE PAY? >> WITH THE ATTRITION, YEAH. 
          PART OF ATTRITION RATE AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST AND THE DIFFERENTIAL, YES. 
          A HIGH TURNOVER RATE THERE. >> THANK YOU SO HAVE. 
          THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD 1:33 
          REMAINING. >> SO FOR THE LOCAL TENANTS. 
          JUST TO CLARIFY. THAT SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST IS CONTINUING. PROVIDED BY ARP AFLT FUNDING IS THAT CORRECT. SO BEYOND CONTINUING THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE WHICH AS WE TALKED ABOUT IS BELOW THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AT 0% DONE WITH THE 90 DAYS AUTOPSY REPORTS. RATHER THAN 90. 
          BEYOND CONTINUING THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND HIRING MORE WHICH WE'VE ESTABLISHED IS DIFFICULT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPLORED OR COULD BE EXPLORED TO IMPROVE THAT TURN AROUND TIME IN TERMS OF THE WORK FLOW PROCESSES. 
          YEAH. >> YEAH. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WAS THE USE OF THE CT SCANNER WHICH WE FINALLY HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING AT FULL SCALE SINCE THE END OF LAST YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE 
          [02:55:01]
CHANGEING WHICH WE MET WITH THE D.A.'S OFFICE RECENTLY WAS IMPLEMENTING PEDESTRIANS THAT FAILED TO STOP FSRA CASES WHICH ARE GREAT TRO VEHICULAR CRIMES DIVISION. 
          THE REASON THE CT SCANNER TO DOCUMENT THOSE INJURIES WHICH WILL SAVE TIME DURING THE AUTOPSY PROCESS. 
          WE'RE ALSO USING THE CT SCANNER TO CHANGE CASES FROM REQUIRING A FULL AUTOPSY TO BE DOING MUCH MORE TARGETED EXAMS WHICH SAVED TIME IN THE AUTOPSY SUITE. ALLOWS THE PATHOLOGIST MORE TIME TO WORK OUT THEIR CASES AND WRITE THEIR REPORTS. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO. 
          YOU HAD TWO MINUTES AND TWO SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT THREE AND FOUR? HUH NO TIME REMAINING. 
          SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION FROM INSTITUTE OF 
          FORENSIC SCIENCES. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> AND NOW COLLEAGUES IT IS TIME FOR THE LUNCH BREAK. 
          WE WILL RECONVENE AT 1:45 P.M. WITH A PRESENTATION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. GOOD AFTERNOON COURT OFFICES. 
          IT IS 1:45 P.M. AND WE ARE READY TO RESUME OUR BUDGET HEARINGS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. NOW WE WELCOME THE DISTRICT 
          [District Attorney]
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY HAVE ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR INTRODUCTORY AND CONCLUSION REMARKS SPLIT STARTING WITH THREE MINUTES AT THE TOP AND TWO MINUTES AT THE END. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. >> I WILL GIVE A COUPLE OF THE MINUTES BACK ON THE OPENING. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          I KNOW HOW HARD YOU ALL HAVE WORKED THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET SEASON SPECIFICALLY WITH MY TEAM. 
          I GET-- ALMOST DAILY ABOUT THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND THE COLLABORATION. I THINK WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHAEN DMENT A. OFFICE-- I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE. AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU ALL. WITHOUT DANIEL. 
          ERIKA AND THE WHOLE TEAM AROUND THIS COUNTY. 
          SO WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS. 
          BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND HOW WELL WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER 
          RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS 
          BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF THE REDUCTION OF GRANT FUNDING THAT THE OFFICE IS EXPERIENCED AND PARTICULARLY ANY EXISTING STAFF THAT'S GOING TO BE 
          IMPACTED BY THIS LOSS? >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT ONE FOR THE RECORD IF WE HAVE ONE. 
          MY NAME IS CHANDLER RAIN AND I'M AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY AT THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE. TO US WE HAVE A RELATIVELY LARGE GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE ON DIFFERENT GRANT FUNDINGS. 
          AND SO IT'S EVERYTHING FROM-- ALL THE WAY TO THE BORDER PROSECUTION UNIT. WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST REALLY 18 MONTHS IS THAT THERE'S LESS MONEY COMING BOTH FROM AUSTIN AND DC FOR THESE PROGRAMS. WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN SOME OF THE ANSWERLIER COSTS TO THE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN INCLUDING SOME INCREASES THAT CAME FROM THE GALLAGHER PAY PARODY STUDY AS WELL. 
          A LOT OF OUR FOLKS WHO WORK ON GRANTS BECAME MORE EXPENSIVE. 
          SO HOW THESE GRANTS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. 
          AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH THE TEXAS ANTI-GANG TASK FORCE AS WELL AS OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS THROUGH THE GRANT. 
          AND CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME WITH THOSE GRANTS BUT AS THAT POT OF MONEY SHRINKS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. THE ULTIMATE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE TO COME TO THIS BODY AND ASK FOR MORE SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE. 
          AND IT'S REALLY A CONTINUELING LEVEL OF SERVICE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOLKS THERE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE PAYING THEM. 
          >> NOT ONE OF YOUR PROPOSED OFFSETS INTERN POSITIONS. 
          CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW OFTEN INTERNS GO ON TO APPLY TO THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND IF THERE'S ANY CONCERNS CUTTING THIS PROGRAM WILL IMPACT THE PIPELINE. 
          [03:00:04]
          >> THERE'S A HUGE CONCERN THAT IT WOULD. 
          CUTTING ANYTHING IN LABER WILL AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS. 
          EVEN INTERNALSHIP PROGRAM WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS. AND FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. 
          THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR. 
          THAT'S PART OF THE PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. 
          AND IT'S A HUGE RECRUITING TOOL FOR US AS WELL. 
          A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP WERE INTERNS WITH OUR OFFICE BEFORE THEY GRADUATED AND GOT THEIR BAR CARD. 
          IT'S A HUGE RECRUITING TOOL FOR US. 
          AND IT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE OFFICE. YES, MA'AM. 
          >> CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE STAFFING STRUCTURE SITE FOR COURT INITIATIVE AND EXPLAIN WHETHER-- AND IF SO HOW, THESE POSITIONS WOULD BE USED BEYOND THE INITIATIVE. 
          THE SITE? >> SURE. 
          ABSOLUTELY. SO ON OUR SER WHAT WE'VE LISTED IS THIS GRAND JURY STAFFING. AND SO THERE ARE TWO DUALING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. 
          SO IT'S THE CITATION TO COURT PROGRAM. 
          AND THEN THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH REGARDS TO INTAKE MODERNIZATION AND RETHINKING THE WAY THAT WE FILE SOME LOWEST LEVEL MISDEMEANOR CASES TO MAKE OURSELVES MORE EFFICIENT AT THE CHARGING STAGE OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. 
          WITH REGARDS TO STAF WANT TO HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL PROSECUTOR ACE SIGNED TO OUR GRAND JURY DIVISION AND A HANDFUL OF PARALEGALS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WHO ARE THERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE AS WE'RE COLLECTING DISCOVERY. 
          TO TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION WE HAVE THE STAFF FOR THAT DISCOVERY. IT'S EFFECTIVELY SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN OUR COUNTY COURTS TO OUR GRAND JURY DIVISION. THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE CITATION OF COURT PROGRAM. 
          100% OF OUR CITATION TO COURT CASES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INTAKE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. AND SO WITH REGARDS TO STAFFING, THE TWO ARE ONE IN THE SAME. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          HEATHER CRUZ FROM PRECINCT TWO. I APOLOGIZE MATT GARRY IS NOT HERE BUT HE HAS LEFT ME HIS WONDERFUL NOTES. 
          I'M GOING TO BOUNCE OFF OF THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE CITATION TO COURT. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW THAT PROGRAM WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL OPERATIONS OF OUR 
          JUSTICE SYSTEM? >> OF COURSE. 
          SO THE CITATION TO COURT PROGRAM WILL HAVE NO REAL IMPACT ON THE ACTUAL JAIL POPULATION. 
          THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NEVER GOING INTO CUSTODY. 
          THEY DON'T COME DOWN TO THE JPC BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING A CITATION AND BEING TOLD TO COME DOWN AND REPORT TO COURT IN THREE WEEKS FROM WHATEVER THEY GET THAT CITATION. THE WAY THAT IT WILL REALLY IMPACT THE JAIL THOUGH IS THROUGH THE JPC. 
          RIGHT NOW ON AVERAGE WE HAVE ABOUT 300 BOOK AGS DAY AT JPC. 
          SOME OF THOSE ARE FROM NEW CHARGES. 
          SOME OF THOSE ARE CLASS C ARRESTS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ER TO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. 
          AND SOME OF THEM ARE PARDON PAROLE HOLDS AND SOME OF THOSE ARE OF COURSE GOING TO BE HOLDS FROM IMMIGRATION. 
          ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST THE JPC AND DECREASING THAT NUMBER OF BOOKINGS IS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR OPERATIONS. AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN BE AS EFFICIENT AS THEY CAN BE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO USE CITATION TO COURT TO HELP THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OUT ON THE MARGINS BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY COMING DOWN TO THE JAIL. 
          THERE'S ONLY A SET NUMBER OF OFFENSES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CITATION TO COURT UNDER TEXAS LAW. 
          AND IT'S THE LOWEST LEVEL OFFENSES THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. 
          IT'S CLASS A AND B MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION AND ON THOSE CASES, WE ALREADY HAVE A SIMILAR MODEL THROUGH OUR MNDP. 
          IT'S ALMOST A COMBINATION OF CITATION TO COURT. 
          AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH OTHER MISDEMEANORS THROUGH INTAKE MODERNIZATION BY DOING A PRE-CHARGE DIE VERSION. 
          THE OTHER CHARGERS CLASS A AND B SIN THEKT MARIJUANA POSSESSION. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. 
          IT IS-- IT'S DWLI OR DRIVING WHILE LICENSE IS INVALID. 
          AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SET OF OFFENSES IT'S VERY SMALL. 
          BUT THERE'S A LOT OF VOLUME OF CASES THAT ARE FILED. 
          AND RIGHT NOW THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 16 CITATION OF COURT CASES IN 2026. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE OUR PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCE TOMENT USE THIS AS A TOOL. BECAUSE WE THINK IT WOULD MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT AS WELL. ANY TIME WE HAVE AN OFFICER WHO IS EFFECTUATING AN ARREST FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T VIEW THEM AS A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE BRINGING THEM DOWN TO JPC. IT TAKES THAT OFFICER OFF THE STREET FOR SEVERAL HOURS DURING THEIR SHIFT. 
          SO WE WANT THOME GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER RIDING THAT CITATION. 
          RELEASING THEM TO COME DOWN TO COURT. 
          IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITATION TO COURT NUMBERS AND WHEN FOLKS 
          [03:05:01]
SHOW UP, A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE A CITATION SHOW UP FOR THEIR FIRST SETTING. 
          IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM WHEN IT'S IMPLEMENTED. 
          AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR PARTNERS TO UTILIZE IT MORE OFTEN. 
          BECAUSE IT REALLY WILL ASSIST IN THE DAILY BOOKINGS AT THE 
          JPC. >> THANK YOU. 
          VERY WELL DESCRIBED. WHAT OTHER PARTS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM NEED TO BE WELL FUNDED? SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO YOUR 
          JOB WELL. >> SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE WANTED TO DO AS AN OFFICE IS DATA DRIVEN. 
          WE'VE-- THERE'S NOW MAJOR MILLS AT THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUT WHEN SHE WAS DIRECTOR MILLS WITH THE NCA WE WORKED A LOT WITH HER AND HER TEAM ON REALLY FOCUSING ON DATA AND THE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE OURSELVES MORE E EFFICIENT AS AN OFFICE. 
          BUT ALSO TAKING THAT DATA TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. 
          I KNOW MEMBERS FROM THE JUDICIARY HAVE MADE REQUESTS FOR DATA ANALYSTS AS WELL. AND HAVING MORE DATA ANALYSTS IN THIS COUNTY IS A PRO, NOT A CON, AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERN BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO BE DATA DRIVEN. 
          IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. 
          NOT JUST AS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPACE. BE WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF COUNTY AGENCIES. IN THE SPACE NOT JUST THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CONSTABLES BUT FRIENDS AT PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND MAKING SURE ALL OF RUSS ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN. NOT JUST OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT CONTINUE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO USE THE MONEY THAT WE GET FROM THIS BODY MORE EFFECTIVELY AND MORE 
          EFFICIENTLY. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. 
          EXCUSE ME. PRECINCT THREE WILL NOW HAVE 
          FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> YOU SAID THREE? 
          I THOUGHT I HEARD TWO. >> FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> NO-- I'M SORRY. IS IT APPROPRIATE TO CALL YOU 
          CHIEF RAIN? >> YOU CAN JUST CALL ME 
          CHANDLER. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          OKAY. WELL IT'S NICE TO HAVE YA'LL OUT THERE. AND IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON. NICK RADEK, I WORK FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AS THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES. 
          SO MY FIRST QUESTION RELATES TO THE GALLAGHER STUDY. 
          I MEAN WHEN WE FIRST START BY SAYING THAT YA'LL'S DEPARTMENT IS SO LABOUR HEAVY. I DON'T THINK THAT OUR OFFICE IS NECESSARILY INTERESTED IN CUTTING YA'LL AT ALL. 
          OR EVEN CONSIDERING THAT. OR I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S LEGAL. BUT ANYWAY LET'S TALK ABOUT GALLAGHER AND WHAT IMPACTS THAT'S DOWN YA'LL. 
          >> WELL ONE OF OUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS-- AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE GALLAGHER PAY PARODY STUDY. AND WE NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TIME THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH GALLAGHER, THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE FELT WERE BEING KIND OF FORGOTTEN. AND SO JUST FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WERE RECEIVING INCREASES THAT PUT THEM NOT JUST ABOVE, BUT WAY ABOVE THEIR SUPERVISORS. 
          AND SO WE WERE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE OUR SUPERVISORS WHO ARE TAKING ON A LOT OF THE LOAD AS WELL. 
          BECAUSE THERE'S NO EASY JOB AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING PAID SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SUPERVISED. WHICH PUTS US IN THE MANAGEMENT POSITION OF HOW CAN I EVER CONVINCE SOMEBODY TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LOT LESS MONEY THAN THEY ARE GETTING PAID RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THIS SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST IS TO DEAL WITH THE ANCILLARY COST WITH THE ABSURDITY THAT WAS CREATED BY NOT LISTENING TO US AS A DEPARTMENT. 
          WE FOUND THAT WHEN WE WOULD BRING THEM OPTIONS THAT DIDN'T CREATE THESE NON-COMMON SENSE CALL OUTCOMES. 
          WE WERE ALWAYS SHUTDOWN. AND SO WE WORKED VERY HEAVILY WITH HRT. TRYING TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE COSTS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE CREATED BY GALLAGHER. 
          BUT WE OFTEN FOUND OURSELVES RUNNING INTO A WALL WITH GALLAGHER OURSELF AND THAT'S WHY WE FOUND OURSELVES HAVING TO COME TO THIS BODY ASKING FOR ALMOST 400,000 DOZ DEAL WITH 
          THE ISSUES THAT WERE CREATED. >> OKAY. 
          SO-- EARLIER I ASKED A QUESTION, TO SOMEBODY ELSE THAT ESSENTIALLY MY DEPARTMENT ENDS UP TAKING ON A LOT OF COSTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS INTERNALLY AT PRECINCT THREE. 
          SO THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO POINT OUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ENDS UP INEFFICIENT THAT COSTS THE DA'S OFFICE MONEY THAT ESSENTIALLY COULD BE SAVED? 
          UNFAIRLY BURDENED? >> THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE AS AN OFFICE TAKE ON. I KNOW SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL ORDER BONDS AND CODING GENERAL ORDER BONDS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO AS AN OFFICE INSTITUTIONALLY IS MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN MAKE IT. 
          SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE TAKE ON THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY OUR RESPONSIBILITY STATUTORILY. BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURER THAT THINGS WORK. I THINK THAT THE GENERAL BONDS IS PROBABLY THE MOST POIGNANT. ONE OF THOSE RIGHT NOW TO DATE. 
          THE D.A.'S OFFICE IS STILL CODING ALL OF THE GENERAL ORDER BONDS AT THE INTAKE LEVEL AS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE 
          [03:10:01]
DISTRICT-- EXCUSE ME COUNTY COURTS TO TAKE ON THAT RESPON RESPONSIBILITY. 
          AND THAT'S ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES WHERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE BECAUSE ONCE THAT SLOW DOWN AN' HAPPENING IT JUST COMPOUNDS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOUR JOB IS MEETING YOUR OBLIGATIONS. 
          >>> OKAY. SO EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT MAJOR MILLS AND I TALKED TO HER QUITE FREQUENTLY AND NATALIE FROM PRETRIAL THERE'S ALL SORTS OF BIG IDEAS OUT THERE AND I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU HAVE ANY AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT THIS IS BEING PITCHED AROUND BY PRETRIALS IS TONYA MILLS ESSENTIALLY WHEN SOMEONE IS CHARGED AS A MISDEMEANOR IT GOES TO DIFFERENT COURTS AND PROSECUTORS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND ESSENTIALLY MOVE THINGS TO THE HIGHER COURT I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU ALL AND ANY OTHER BIG IDEAS THAT CAN HELP US 
          SAVE MONEY I'M ALL FOR IT. >> THERE'S A JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEM WHEN WE START DOCKETING CASES IN DIFFERENT COURTS. 
          IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AND LOOK INTO THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT ON THAT FRONT. 
          I KNOW THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT COMBINING THE MI MISDEMEANOR ERD AND FELONY ERD AND AGAIN ALWAYS JURISDICTIONAL QUESTION DOES THIS JUDGE HAVE DURE JURISDICTION TO PRESIDE OVER THAT CASE WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LIMIT AMOUNT OF TIMES WE'RE FILING MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY IN CONJUNCTION. AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE FELONY. 
          SO THAT'S BEEN OUR SOLUTION TO IT AT THIS POINT. 
          ANY OTHER BRIGHT IDEAS I KNOW DIRECTOR MILLS IS CONSTANTLY, EXCUSE ME, MAJOR MILLS, SORRY TANYA CORCONSTANTLY TRYING TO M 
          IT MORE EFFICIENT. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE, PRECINCT FOUR YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTION. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AND THE COMMISSIONER IS INCREDIBLEBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO FOR ALL FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I WANTED TO LOOK BACK TO 2025 HAS YOUR OFFICE BEEN ABLE TO FILL 38PCN RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH VICTIM SERVICES AND THEN COULD YOU ALSO SPEAK TO THE OUTCOMES 
          AND SUCCESSES. >> I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS BUT I THINK AMY CHEN OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER HAS THE NUMBERS AND I'LL THROW IT TO YOU. 
          I THINK MY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE TWO-FOLD AS WELL. WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN AND SHAUN TOOK OVER AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY OUR ATTRITION RATE WAS SITTING AT 5 AND A HALF PERCENT AND WE'RE BELOW 4% NOW. 
          WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO SLOW ATTRITION DOWN. 
          CONSIDERING ONE-THIRD OF THE STAFF IS LAWYERS ARE CONSTANTLY COMPETING WITH A CIVIL MARKET THAT CAN GIVE THEM MORE MONEY THAN WE CAN. SO FOLKS STAY FOR TWO REASONS, ONE IS THE PASSION OF WHAT WE DO AND THE OTHER THEY FEEL SAFE FROM THE TOP. AND IT'S THE CULTURE THAT SHAUN HAS HELPED CREATE OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WE'VE GOT THEIR BACK AND WE SUPPORT THEM IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THAT'S ONE PIECE OF THE SUCCESS. 
          THE OTHER PIECE OF THE SUCCESS IS THE WORK THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING AND I'LL START WITH MENTAL HEALTH FOLKS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW BECAUSE LAST YEAR I WAS TAUTING HOW WE WERE GOING TO STARTING THIS PROGRAM AND FIRST OF ITS KIND BACK THEN BUT NOW WE'VE CONSIDERED TO STAFF THE MENTAL HEALTH DESK AND WE STILL DO FOUR SHIFTS OVERNIGHT, EACH SHIFT CATCHES ABOUT 10 TO 15 FOLKS WHO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND WE'RE ABLE TO DIVERT THEM FOR THE TREATMENT AND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. THAT'S 10 TO 15 FOLKS FOUR TIMES A WEEK WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN MISSED AND FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE JPC RATHER THAN A PLACE THAT THEY WERE GETTING THE TREATMENT THAT THEY COULD AND THAT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT THAT THIS COURT GAVE US LAST YEAR AND CONTINUED FOR US THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO PAY THE LAWYERS WHO WERE THERE FROM MIDNIGHT TO 8 A.M. EVERY MORNING BECAUSE THEY GO RIGHT TO WORK AT 8 A.M. ONCE THEY FINISH THEIR SHIFT. 
          ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS WE'VE HAD IT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUREAU ROW. EAST OF  -- WE'VE ASKED A TEAM OF FOLKS TO FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF OFFENDERS AND HAVE THE H HIGHEST LETHALITY LEVEL. 
          IT'S NOT JUST TO GET A SURVIVOR TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T BECOME A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 
          OUR GOAL IS TRULY TO KEEP THE NEXT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE 
          [03:15:03]
FROM OCCURRING AND ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS WORKING WITH TRAUMA INFORMED FOLKS IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE TO CONNECT FOLKS TO RESOURCES AND WE'VE BEEN INCREDIBLEBLY SUCCESSFUL AT DOING THAT AND THE TEAM OF FOLKS THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY AND THE RESOURCES EXTERNALLY TRULY SAVE LIVES. 
          I'M JUST GOING TO LET YOU SAY THAT. 
          >> I HAVE PERFORMANCE DATA RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH REFERRAL AND PROCESS RATE OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND REALLY PROVE A GREAT SUCCESS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE DONE. SO USING THE REFERRAL TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AS AN EXAMPLE, OUR TARGET WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO OFFICE WE SET AT 705 AND LAST YEAR'S ACTUAL WAS 1913. 
          SO MORE THAN 1,000 MORE THAN TARGET. 
          PROCESS RATE AT SET AT 100 AND WE ARE HITTING 139 SO WE'RE CLEARING BACKLOG VERY EFFECTIVELY. 
          >> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU AND I'M SURE YES MAJOR MILLS EAR'S ARE BURNING I THINK IT'S HER GREAT WORK AND Y'ALL'S ENDLESS COLLABORATION AND NEW IMPROVED DASH BORDER WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE INTAKES ARE TRENDING UPWARDS RELATIVE RELEASE AND CURIOUS IF YOU CAN GIVE US THOUGHTS ON THAT GROWTH 
          WE'RE SEEING. >> IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE DATA FROM THE LAST 2 MONTHS TWO THINGS ARE RESULTING IN THE UPTAKE AND NEITHER ONE IS A POLICY CHANGE. 
          IT'S JUST THAT WE GOT MORE FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW. 
          I THINK THE PRECIPITATION WE DID FOR FIFA ENSURED WE AS A COUNTY AND CITY WERE PREPARED FOR THE HUGE INFLUX OF FOLKS THAT WE HAD COME TO OUR COUNTY. AND WE HAVE I THINK WE'RE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE AVOIDED ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THE WOS OF THE WORST. BUT WE STILL SEE THAT THERE'S AN INCREASE IN LOWER LEVEL OFFENSES RELATED REALLY TO DRINKING. 
          AND SO WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN LOWER LEVEL DISMEANER FILINGS AND THE ONLY THING I CAN USE TO EXPLAIN THAT IS THAT WE'VE HAD FIFA GOING ON. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT TREND IS GOING TO CONTINUE UPWARD AND I THINK ONCE WE COME TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER WE'LL START TO SEE THAT TICK BACK DOWN. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I'LL HOLD MY 7 SECONDS VELTION THAN. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE NOW 5 3 
          MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO COUNTY JUDGE IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMITMENT AND I KNOW HUH A LOT OF OVERCOME IN THE PAST YEAR AND SEEING HOW YOU PRIORITIZED AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM -- YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO TO NOW HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR WAS VERY THOROUGH IN THEIR QUESTIONS AND FEW OF MY QUESTIONS THAT WERE ON HERE AND I THINK MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS GIVEN THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE IN, GIVEN KNOWING HOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU WOULD BE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES FROM YOUR LIST AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THEM AND THE WAY THAT YOU NEED TO. 
          AND THEN ALSO WHAT THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES IS GOING TO BE FROM THESE INVESTMENTS CONTINUING. THANK YOU. 
          >> YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. WE LISTED C  SCR TO LIST OF PRIORITY. INTAKE MOD EARNIZATION INCLUDING STAFFING AND CITATION TO COURT AND SECOND IS GOING TO BE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKET STAFFING, LAST YEAR DURING BUDGET SEASON WE SHIFTED OUR MODEL OF HOW WE STAFF OUR ERD IN RESPONSE TO IT BECOMING THE EID. WITH THE STAFF OR THE DOCKETING BEING THE WAY THAT IT IS CURRENTLY WE'RE ASKING TO RESTORE THAT FUNDING FOR THAT STAFFING THAT WE HAD BEFORE. 
          AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS GOING TO BE OUR GRANT FUNDING. 
          BECAUSE LIKE WE SPOKE ABILITY EARLIER I'VE GOT PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE SPOTS RIGHT NOW WHO I'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO. 
          SO I'LL START WITH THAT ONE. AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR US IS THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S ON A GRANT RIGHT NOW BECAME MORE EXPENSIVE AND SO IF WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THOSE GRANT SPOTS THEN IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND WHICH IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE BECAUSE THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SO LODE SHARE SOME TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STILL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES STILL DOING IMPORTANT WORK. 
          WITH REGARD TO SEE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKET ONE, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE WITH REGARDS TO THESE PROGRAMS AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION EARLIER WITH SOME OTHER OFFICES ABOUT IMPROVING AND INCREASING COMMUNICATION REGARDING THESE ERDS AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS FULLY ON BOARD TO SIT DOWN WITH ANY STAKEHOLDERS TO TALK ABOUT THE DATA I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER AND USING IT TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE ERD AND EID PROGRAM IS BEING DOCKETED IN A WAY THAT ADDRESSES WHAT THE COUNTY'S CORE ISSUES ARE RIGHT NOW ONE OF THEM BEING THE JAIL POPULATION. 
          WE'VE SUSTAINED THE JAIL POPULATION AT ABOUT 8500 OR BLOW 
          [03:20:04]
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND I DON'T WANT IT TO PLATEAU. 
          LAST YEAR WE WERE CELEBRATING DURING THE BUDGET HEARING GETTING FROM 8900 TO NOW WE'VE GOT FROM 8700 TO BELOW 8500. 
          AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS GIVE US THE RESOURCES BACK FOR ERD BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH NOT JUST THE JUDARY BUT PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE OR THE PRIVATE DEFENCE BAR GROUP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL IN THE ROOM AS WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS BUT WITH AN EYE TOWARDS BEING EFFICIENT WITH THOSE FUNDS. THE NUMBER ONE CHARGE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL RIGHT NOW ISSING A HAVE SERRATED ADULT. 
          1,000 OF THEM ARE CHARGED W WITHWITH INGAGGRAVATED ASSAULT. WE CAN USE DATA TO SAY LET'S DOCKET THESE CASES OVER THERE WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FUND US FOR THE PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PROSECUTE THOSE CASES BUT WE'LL ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT WITH THE MONEY AND THEN WITH THE FIRST ONE WITH REGARDS TO INTAKE MODERNIZATION, THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT WE -- SHAUN AND I PITCHED TO THE CJCC BACK IN MARCH THIS YEAR AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING WE JUST GOT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO IT. 
          I THINK THE IMPACT THIS PROGRAM WILL HAVE ON THE COUNT'S BUDGET OVER ALL IS GOING TO BE A POSITIVE ONE IF WE CAN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF -- DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS HAVING TO COME TO NOT JUST THE JPC BUT THE COURTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          THE AVERAGE MISDEMEANOR CASE RIGHT NOW HAS 6 SETTINGS AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET THAT NUMBER DOWN TO TWO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SO OUR GOAL IS TO SAY FOUR SETTINGS PER COURT OR CASE FROM TIME OF FILING TO TIME OF DISPOSITION. THAT WOULD HAVE A VERY LARGE IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND FOR THE COUNTY'S COURT ADMINISTRATION AND FOR PRETRIAL. YES, MA'AM. 
          >> I WILL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME BACK IF I HAVE ANY LEFT. 
          >> IF I MIGHT ADD, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERNT AT ANY BUDGET HEARING THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES WHERE I REALLY DO FEEL OF SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS WHERE THERE'S A BIG ROI POTENTIALLY FOR US TO HELP THE REST OF THE BUDGET. 
          >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. AND THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. 
          PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD 55 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >>   I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH GR BEING HERE AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO EVERYDAY. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. 
          PRECINCT TWO ALMOST 59 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> ALMOST A MINUTE, DANIEL TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE REVENUE 
          GENERATING. >> IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE REVENUE GENERATION BUT AS WE'VE SEEN AND WE PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST DECADE ONE OF THE MAJOR INEFFICIENCIES IS THE NUMBER OF RESETS YOU'RE PAYING FOR AN ATTORNEY ESPECIALLY UNDER NEW MODEL FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE RESETS IN SOME WAY IF WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT FROM 6 DOWN TO 2, I MEAN YOU'RE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INJURY DEFENCE FEES. 
          >> THANK YOU. NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT THREE YOU HAD NO TIME REMAINING. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU HAD 7 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> JUST ENOUGH TIME TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU 
          HAVE 20 SECONDS REMAINING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE PORTION OF COURT OFFICE QUESTIONS AND NOW ATTORNEY TEARE YOU WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. 
          >> THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION. 
          THE DA'S OFFICE AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS AN INTERTWINED ORGANISM. SO TO SUPPORT US MEANS YOU ALSO HAVE TO SUPPORT JUDGE DRAPER AND PORTIA WITH THE MAC AND EVERY ELSE THAT DOES THIS WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND I THINK DATA IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND SO THE JUDICIARY'S ASK IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IDEAS WE HAVE TO MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT AND TO SAVE MONEY, IF NOTHING ELSE GOT CONVEYED TODAY, INTAKE MODERNIZATION WILL TRULY BE THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE WAY THAT THIS HAPPENS THAT CHARGES ARE ACCEPTED AND INVESTIGATED IN THE COUNTRY. 
          NO ONE IS DOING THIS HYBRID MODEL AND IT WILL SAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND COUNTLESS DAYS OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO WORK AND CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCTIVE BY NOT SITTING IN COURT. OUR PROSECUTORS WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T BE PARA LEGALS COLLECTING EVIDENCE 
          [03:25:04]
WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN GRAND JURY. 
          IT'S GOING TO REVITALIZE I THINK THE WHOLE COURTHOUSE THAT IS OUR ONE BIG IDEA AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU, TO ATTORNEY TEARE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. OKAY. 
          [Public Defender]
IT IS 2:15 AND WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THEY ARE ELECTED TO SPLIT TIME FOR 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND 2 MINUTES TO CLOSE OUT. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH 
          PRECINCT TWO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS GENESIS DRAPER AND I SERVE AS THE CHEAP DEFENDER FOR -- CHIEF DEFENDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE MY CHIEF OF STAFF JEREMY BROWN AS WELL AS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. 
          THIS MONTH MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE I BECAME CHIEF DEFENDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC DEFENCE WHILE USING COUNTY RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY AND WE HAVE ALREADY MADE MEASURABLE PROGRESS AND THIS YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW AND TO AUTOMATE MISDEMEANOR APPOINTMENTS AND THAT EFFORT HAS INCREASED PUBLIC DEFENDERS SHARE FROM 20. 
          % TO 31% IN JUST ONE YEAR THE COMBINATION OF FULL USE OF THE PDO AND MAC IS PROJECTED TO HAVE DEFENCE SPENDING DOWN APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S SPEND. 
          WE ALSO CREATED A ROBUST BOAST FAR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THAT RECRUITS GRADUATES AND PROVIDING INTENSIVE TRAINING AND TRANSITIONS THEM INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS AFTER THEY PASS THE BAR BY NEXT MONTH WE HAVE ON BOARDED NEARLY 40 FELLOWS CREATING A SUSTAINABLE PIPELINE OF WELL TRAINED PUBLIC DEFENDERS. LAST MONTH WE EXPANDED OUR MISDEMEANOR MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION INTO FELONY COURTS INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILL ILLNESS PRESENT COMPLEX AND RESOURCE INTENSIVE CASES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. LAST YEAR WE BEGAN ACCEPTING FELONY APPOINTMENTS ON SUNDAY ALLOWS US TO CAPTURE WEEKEND CASES AND ADD OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT ROUGHLY 80 FELLY CASES EACH WEEK AND THAT DIRECTLY VANCE THE PLAN EXPANDING WHOLISTIC REPRESENTATION AND INCREASING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S SHARE OF COURT APPOINTMENTS TO AT LEAST 50%. 
          OUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST ALLOW US TO BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM BY FUNDING 35 ADDITIONAL POST BAR FELLOWS AND 20 EXPERIENCED LATERAL ATTORNEYS. 
          THESE POSITIONS ARE ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE GOING TO REACH THE COUNTY'S GOAL OF HANDLING AT LEAST 50% OF APPOINTMENTS WITHIN THE NEXT 3 TO FIVE YEARS. THIS QUESTIONS ALSO PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE. THIS COURT HAS ASKED OUR OFFICE TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO ACCEPT CAPITAL CASES AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS WELL POSITIONED TO DO THAT WORK BUT CAPITAL REPRESENTATION REQUIRES EXPERIENCED LAWYERS, SPECIALIZED TRAINING, RIGOROUS SUPERVISION AND DELIBERATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THE 22 LATERAL ATTORNEY POSITIONS ARE CRITICAL TO BUILDING THE EXPERIENCED PIPELINE NECESSARY TO RESPONSIBILITILY TAKE ON CAPITAL CASES IN THE FUTURE. FINALLY I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE IMPORTANT THOUGHT, CHOOSING NOT TO FUND THIS REQUEST DOES NOT SAVE HARRIS COUNTY MONEY BUT INSTEAD INVEST THAT MONEY INTO THE CONTINUED OVERRELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE BAR TODAY WE HANDLE 100% OF BAIL HEARINGS AT THE JPC AND OFFICERS OF JUVENILE AND 31% OF GIS MEANER APPOINTMENTS UP FROM 20% ONE YEAR AGO AND 14% OF FELONY APPOINTMENTS. THE TRAJECTORY IS CLEAR. 
          WE ARE GROWING THOUGHTFULLY, WE ARE DELIVERING RESULTS AND BUILDING A PUBLIC DEFENCE SYSTEM THAT SERVES BOTH OUR CLIENTS AND TAX PAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT TWO. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, HEATHER CRUZ FROM PRECINCT TWO. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. YOU LED DIRECTLY INTO MY FIRST QUESTION. PLEASE EXPAND TALKING ABOUT THE LATERAL HIRES AND THE POST BAR FELLOWS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL GET YOU TO THE GOAL OF TAKING ON CAPITAL CASES. 
          >> SURE. SO AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE -- WE HAVE LAWYERS WITHIN OUR OFFICE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY AND 
          [03:30:05]
EXPERIENCE TO HANDLE CAPITAL CASES BUT THOSE ARE PRIMARILY OUR SUPERVISORY ATTORNEYS SO TO PUT THEM INTO SOME SORT OF CAPITAL UNIT OR DIVERT THEIR ATTENTION TO CAPITAL CASES BUT LEAVE US ESSENTIALLY WITHOUT SUPERVISION FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS THAT WE ARE BRINGING ON WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO IS BUILD THAT PIPELINE OF EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS SO THAT WHEN WE DEVOTE SOME ATTORNEYS TO CAPITAL CASES WE HAVE THOSE ATTORNEYS TO SPARE. ANYONE CAN TELL YOU RECRUITING CAPITAL ATTORNEYS IS NOT EASY THAT IS AN ASSESSMENT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IN THE COMING YEAR AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS PORT WITH OPTIONS WE THINK ARE VIABLE OPTIONS. 
          >> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. 
          AND I UNDERSTAND NATIONAL RECREWMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO GET OUR PDO AS ROBUST AS WE WANT IT TO BE. 
          WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT COULD YOU USE FROM THIS COURT WHILE YOU DO 
          NATIONAL RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES. >> SURE. 
          THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. ONE I WOULD SAY POSITIONS WE REQUESTED BOTH AT PAST BAR AND LATERAL ATTORNEYS IT'S GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR THAT. WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED NATIONWIDE RECREWMENT AND ONE OF THE SHORTAGES WE HAVE IS SPANISH SPEAKING ATTORNEYS WE WANT TO TARGET AREAS WHERE THERE MAY BE A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF SPANISH SPEAKING ATTORNEYS WE WANT TO GO OVER TO ARIZONA AREA AND DIFFERENT AREAS ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WE HAVE NOT EXPLORED AS MUCH IN THE PAST TO SEE IF WE CAN RECRUIT THEM HERE TO HOUSTON. 
          SO OTHER THING I WILL SAY WE FROM TIME TO TIME HAVE TRAVEL REQUESTS HERE, YOU WILL START TO SEE THOSE BECAUSE WE TRAVEL TO THESE LOCATIONS TO TRY AND DO THAT RECRUITING. 
          WE TRY TO DO THAT EFFICIENTLY SO I MAY GO TO LIKE A NEW YORK AND HIT UP AS MANY LAW SCHOOLS AS I CAN TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE GOOD USE OF THOSE TRIPS BUT THOSE WOULD BE THE BIGGEST SUPPORTS THAT YOU COULD MAKE TO SUPPORT OUR NATION-WIDE HIRING 
          >>   FANTASTIC. I'LL RESERVE MY TIME. 
          IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS LATER. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT THREE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTION. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHIEF DRAPER. I'M NICK RAD SQUIK WITH PRECINCT THREE, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES I'M SURE YOU HEARD DA TEARE SAID WE NEED TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY. 
          SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS FOR DIRECTOR RAMOS. 
          WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON EXPANDING PDO? 
          >> YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT. I MEAN I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT MULTIPLE TIMES SAYING INJURY AND DEFENCE IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE BIGGEST ISSUES WE NEED TO TACKLE COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNTY. I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WE WERE OPERATING UNDER A MOTION FOR A THREE YEAR PLAN TO GET TO 50% UNFORTUNATELY THE CASE LOAD GREW TO ABOUT AS FAST AS OUR INVESTMENTS WE'RE AT 22%. WE WOULD NEED ANOTHER MOTION TO CONTINUE THAT EXPANSION BUT I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT SWAP. 
          I WOULD MAKE THAT SWAP ALL DAY EVERYDAY WHEN PRESENTED THE OPTION TO MOVE INVESTMENT AWAY FROM INDEPENDENT ATTORNEYS TO 
          THE PDO. >> OKAY. 
          SOUNDS LIKE YOU HEARD IT. WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS THAT GALLAGHER HAS DONE TO YOUR STAFF? 
          >> SO FIRST LET ME SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE THE BUDGET OFFICE'S SUPPORT AND THEIR COLLABORATION. SO AS FAR AS THE GALLAGHER STUDY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR COMMENTS WOULD BE THE SAME AS THE DA 'S OFFICE. BUT THERE WAS SOME GOOD THAT CAME FROM IT SO WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MORE COMPETITIVE SALARIES, I CAN TELL THAW DEFENDER -- CHIEF DEFENDERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER TO COMPETE FOR SOME OF THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST SO THIS DOES PUT US IN A MORE COMPETITIVE POSITION. TO THE DA'S POINT WHERE THERE WERE DEFINITELY STICKING POINTS THERE WITH GALLAGHER WHERE WE PRESENTED AMPLE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT OUR REQUESTS FOR PARITY AND JUST SEEMED TO GET NOWHERE AND SO THAT WAS NOT RESOLVED AND WE ARE LOOKING INTERNALLY TO OUR OPERATING BUDGET TO TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THOSE GAPS BECAUSE WHAT WE DID SEE IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE IN THOSE PLACES WHERE WE SPECIFICALLY SAID THIS IS GOING TO CREATE DISPARITY WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT DISPARITY EXISTED WE LOST A COUPLE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS AND SO WHAT WE WILL SAY IS THAT THERE WERE SOME POSITIVES BUT THE NEGATIVES THAT WERE THERE WE HAD TO ACT ON THOSE QUICKLY WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET. 
          >> CAN YOU TALK OVER ALL ABOUT ATTRITION ON THAT? 
          >> SURE. SO YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR OFFICE IS MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE SALARIES COMPETITIVE FOR WHEN THEY GET THERE BUT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE SALARIES THROUGHOUT SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF INCENTIVES WHETHER OR NOT INCENTIVIZE SPANISH SPEAKING OR LONGEVITY THERE IN THE 
          [03:35:01]
OFFICE. I WILL SAY BEFORE THE GALLAGHER STUDY WE WERE DOING A LOT OF THE PARITY WORK ON OUR OWN IN OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE HAD PARITY WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MORE ON A NATION-WIDE FRONT AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE COMPETITIVE SALARIES IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR ATTRITION 
          RATE APPROPRIATE. >> OKAY. 
          MY LAST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT BIG IDEAS. 
          YOU HEARD THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED THE DA. 
          IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO? I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ALL ONE BIG SYSTEM AND ONE GEAR GETS CLOGGED UP OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE PROBLEM ACROSS THE BOARD IT ZUNT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG IDEAS I'D LOVE TO HEAR THEM. DOESN'T NECESSARI WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG IDEAS I'D LOVE 
          TO HEAR THEM. >> SURE. 
          SO WHAT I8ED S -- I WOULD SAY I ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED IN GREATER DETAILS. THERE ARE SOME JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES THERE BUT I DO THINK THAT WHERE THE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES PRESENT -- PREVENT THAT IT'S WORTH US PUTTING OUR HEADS TOGETHER EVEN LEGISLATURE ACTS. AUSTIN LOVES TO COME UP WITH A LEGISLATURE FIX THAT'S ONLY FOR HARRIS COUNTY THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF EFFICIENTS IN HAVING DEMEANORS AND FELONIES IN SEPARATE COURTS YOU'RE DOUBLING THE LAWYERS AND DOCKET TIMES AND INVESTIGATION I MEAN THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OVERLAP. 
          I DO THINK THIS IS SOME FIXES WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE FIX BUT FOR THE LONG GAME WE DO NEED TO COLLECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT LEGISLATURE ACTS FOR A COUNTY 
          APPROPRIATE OUR SIDE. >> WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LEGISLATURE DISCUSSION. 
          AND YOU WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN A COUNTY LARGER AS WE ARE CONSOLIDATING THOSE INTO 
          THE SAME COURT ROOM. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, CALL US. WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING ON OUR END THINKING OF LEGISLATIVE ASKS. 
          SO PLEASE DO REACH OUT FOR US. >> YOU GOT A DEAL. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO. AS OUR PARTNERS IN THIS, I KNOW YOU SHARED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROGRESS TOWARDS TAKING ON INCREASED SHARE OF CASES AND CASE APPOINTMENTS. 
          CAN YOU JUST SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRESS YOU'VE SEEN AND ALSO MAY BE FROM YOUR UPCOMING STRATEGIC PLAN HOW YOU AIM TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRESS AND ANY ANTICIPATED COST SAVING 
          FROM THAT? >> SURE, SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST I WOULD MENTION IS WHAT I REFERENCED EARLIER WITH MISDEMEANOR COURTS. THAT IS REALLY THE SWEET SPOT WHERE YOU HAVE THE OFFICE OF MANAGED ASSIGN COUNCIL WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND C COOPERATION OF THE JUDGES TO GIVE THE AUTHORITY OVER TO THOSE AGENCIES WHERE APPROPRIATE. THAT COLLABORATION IS GOING TO END UP SAVING THE COUNTY MONEY. I SUSPECT THIS YEAR BUT DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD AND WHERE YOU HAVE US INCREASING OUR SHARE OF THE CASES AND SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PRIVATE BAR SIDE, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY WILL START TO SEE YOUR SAVINGS. FOR THE DISTRICT COURT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM TO FIND THE BEST WAYS TO INCREASE OUR SHARES THERE. I MENTIONED ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS ADD THAT SUNDAY PICK UP OF CASES, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IS GREAT BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE SWATH OF CASES THAT WE JUST WEREN'T GETTING AND SO THE WEEKEND IS A BUSY TIME. 
          AND SO JUMPING INTO THOSE WEEKEND CASES IT HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR OFFICE ADDING 80 CASES ON A MONDAY MORNING IS NO SMALL FEAT AND SO WE'RE STILL ADJUSTING THERE HENCE THE ASK BECAUSE WE WILL NEED MORE LAWYERS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS INCREASE IN CASE PICKUPS. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT, ANY OTHER SORT OF GENERAL LESSONS YOU FEEL LIKE MAYBE YOU'VE TAKEN AWAY IN 
          PREPARING FOR THIS? >> I THINK WHAT I WOULD SAY FOR GENERAL LESSONS AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN THIS PAST YEAR IS THAT WE CANNOT WORK IN SILOS. AND SO WE OFTEN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS OVER AT JPC, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE COURTS, I MEET WITH JUDGES INDIVIDUALLY JUST TO SEE WHERE THERE ARE BREAK DOWPS IN THE PROCESS SO WE CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY INTERESTING TIME HERE IN THE COUNTY WHERE STAKEHOLDERS ARE WO WORKING TOGETHER. 
          THIS IS AN ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM. WHERE WE HAVE SHARED GOALS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COLLABORATION AND SEEING HOW WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER AND I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN REDUCE JAIL 
          [03:40:01]
BED DAYS IN INCREASED NUMBER OF OUR APPOINTMENTS AND NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS WHERE WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENT. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. AND JUST SHIFTING GEARS A LITTLE BIT, I KNOW THAT WELL I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU'RE SERVING CLIENTS WHO MAY NEED SOME ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE FROM YOUR ATTORNEYS IN TERMS OF BAIL PROCESSES, UNDER SP9 HOW YOU'RE PROVIDING THAT WHAT YOU SEE AS THE CONTINUED NEED FOR 
          THAT SORT OF EXPERTISE. >> SO WE'RE STILL ADJUSTING TO THE SB9 MANDATE BECAUSE OUR LAWYERS WERE ALREADY THERE REPRESENTING PEOPLE AT THESE BAIL DECISIONS AND SO WE'RE WELL SUITED TO DO THAT BUT THEN WHEN THEY SEPARATED THAT OUT AND MADE IT IT'S OWN DOCKET WE'RE REALLY HAVING TO ADJUST TO THAT CHANGE IN PROCESS FOR EXAMPLE THE AVERAGE DOCKET ON THE WEEKEND IS ABOUT 25 CASES WELL THEN I GET A CALL ON THE WEEKEND THAT SAYS THIS DOCKET IS 50; RIGHT? AND SO WE CAN'T REASONABLY REPRESENT ALL 50 AND SO THEN WE'RE TASKED WITH TRYING TO GET SOMEONE UP THERE TO HELP OUT THERE'S A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS BEING MADE IN THAT WAY. BUT EVEN PAST LIKE THE BAIL DECISION AND THE CRIMINAL CASE OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO INCREASE OUR HOLISTIC SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO TRY AND REDUCE THE CHANCE THAT IS THEY ENCOUNTER THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE AND THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL WHILE THEY ARE DEALING WITH RESOLVING THEIR CASE AND SO WE'VE BEEN EXPANDING IN OUR HOLISTIC DEPARTMENT AS WELL. 
          >> AND COULD YOU SHARE A BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE HOLISTIC 
          SERVICES. >> SURE. 
          SO RIGHT NOW THE BULK OF WHAT WE DO IS WE HELP TO SEAL PEOPLE'S RECORDS. WE ALSO DO SOME PAROLE WORK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PAROLE ISSUES. SOME SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR OTHER BENEFITS. 
          DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO. 
          SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HINDERS OUR CLIENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET AROUND IN A CITY THIS LARGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND GET CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL WE FIND THAT REDUCING THOSE BARERS IS HELPFUL NOT ONLY IN HELPING THEM RESOLVE THEIR CASE BUT IN BEING SELF SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE. WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO 
          PROVIDE MORE OF IT. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR 
          QUESTIONS. >> HI, MEGAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS KIND OF GOING OFF OF ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST ASKED CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPACT THAT IS YOU'RE STILL FEELING OF LEGISLATION PASSED LAST SESSION AND WHETHER YOU EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE IMPACTS IN THOSE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 
          >> I THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE CHANGES LIKE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND SP9 AND THINGS LIKE THAT IT'S HARDEST FELT ON COUNTIES LIKE OURS; RIGHT? WHERE WE'RE RUNNING ON A VERY THIN MARGIN OF ERROR AS WE PROCESS PEOPLE THERE AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. AND SO OUR OFFICES JUST EVEN THIS MANY MONTHS LATER IS STILL ADJUSTING TO WHAT THAT VOLUME WOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK THE COURTS ARE DOING THE SAME; RIGHT? THERE ARE SOME COURTS THAT HANDLE THEIR SB9 CASES RIGHT THERE WITH ONE OF THE VISITING JUDGES AND SOME THAT HANDLE IT IN COURT THERE WITH THE HOME COURT ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. ALL OF THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE AND SO EVERY TIME WE GET THESE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND WE'RE BRACING OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP UP WITH ANY OF THOSE CHANGES. THE VOLUME IS JUST MASSIVE AND SO I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME YOU KNOW IF WE CHANGE PRINTERS AT THE JPC IT'S GOING TO HOLD THINGS UP SO WE HAVE TO REALLY ANTICIPATE WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE 
          ACTING PROACTIVELY. >> THANK YOU. 
          IF YOU WERE HERE FOR THE DA'S BUDGET HEARING THEY MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE BIT I'M CURIOUS IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR PROPOSAL FOR CITATION TO COURT WHICH IS ALSO KIND OF WRAPPED UP INTO INTAKE 2.0 OR INTAKE MODERNIZATION. 
          AND THEY ALSO PRESENTED THESE TO THE CJCC SO I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT I'M CURIOUS IF Y'ALL HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CONSIDER HOW THESE MIGHT IMPACT YOUR OPERATIONS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE CAPACITY TO TAKE THESE ON? 
          >> SO WE HAVE AND WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE ABOUT THEIR INTAKE 2.0 PROPOSAL. 
          OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THINGS THAT MINIMIZES PEOPLE'S FOOTPRINT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND SO WE WILL SUPPORT THAT EFFORT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. 
          I THINK -- YOU KNOW, IT STILL REMAINS TO BE SEEN EXACTLY HOW IT WILL LOOK. SO WHAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY NEED TO STAFF IS STILL A QUESTION MARK. 
          WHAT I WILL SAY IS THESE ARE STARTING THE PROGRAM WITH DEMEANOR SPECIFICALLY GOB CASES THAT WILL BE HANDLED BY DEMEAN ER DIVISION. WE'RE ASKING BY 35 POST BAR 
          [03:45:04]
FELLOWS THAT GO INTO THE MISDEMEANOR POSITIONS TO WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A NEW POPULATION OF PEOPLE BUT IT IS A NEW PROCESS AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE HANDLE THOSE CASES WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S APPROPRIATELY 
          STAFFED. >> THANK YOU. 
          AND THIS IS ANOTHER TOPIC IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO EXPAND ON YOUR REQUESTING SERVICE ENHANCEMENT WHICH, OF COURSE, COMES WITH UPFRONT COST BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THE COST SAVINGS WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE NOT IN TERMS OF EXACT NUMBERS I KNOW THAT'S DIFFICULT TO CALCULATE ESPECIALLY IN ADVANCE BUT HOW YOU THINK THIS WOULD HELP REDUCE DEFENCE COSTS 
          OVER TIME. >> SURE. 
          THE WAY I'D REALLY LIKE TO PHRASE IT IS YOU MAKES YOUR COSTS MORE PREDICTABLE; RIGHT? RIGHT NOW THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED SERVICE AND SO WITH THE PRIVATE BAR WHO WE WILL ALWAYS NEED, LET ME SAY THAT. 
          WE WILL ALWAYS NEED THE PRIVATE BAR TO HANDLE A PORTION OF THESE CASES BUT THAT COST IS JUST NOT AS PREDICTABLE. 
          WHEN THE BILL COMES YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY IT AND THAT'S WHENEVER THE BILL COMES; RIGHT? AND SO REALLY BEING ABLE TO ASSESS WHAT THE COSTS ARE IN A GIVEN CALENDER -- IN A GIVEN FISCAL YEAR I THINK IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY. 
          I THINK THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISDEMEANOR MISDEMEANOR COURTS IS TO REALLY SEE WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU LIKE AS OUR CASE SHARE INCREASES WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US BUT I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THE OTHER SIDE COSTS AND SO IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT THE SAVINGS WOULD LOOK LIKE I THINK WHERE YOU HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND WELL RUN MAC LIKE THE ONE THAT WE HAVE, THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN REALLY START TO CALCULATE WHERE ONE GOES UP AND THE OTHER COMES DOWN AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MODEL BUT I THINK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE COST PREDICTABILITY AND SAVINGS BUT COST PREDICTABILITY FROM YEAR TO YEAR THE MORE YOU INVEST IN THIS OFFICE AND THE LARGER OUR CASE 
          SHARE BECOMES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'LL RESERVE MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 
          MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> RITA, WITH PRECINCT ONE CONGRATULATIONS ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE'RE ALL JUST SO IMPRESSED AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES 
          NEXT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I KNOW OFTEN WE LOOK AT INVESTMENTS IN THE PDO AS NOT AS NEW MONEY BUT AS SHIFTED COSTS, DANIEL IS NODDING ALONG IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT IMPACT STAGMENT RESOURCES TO THE PDO WOULD HAVE ON YOUR CASE SHARES. 
          >> SURE. ESSE ESSENTIALLY IF WE ARE FLAT FUNDED OR HEAVEN FORBID CUT THEN GROWTH JUST STOPS. I CAN CONTINUE THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR CASE SHARE WHICH IS THE PROBLEM; RIGHT? I THINK IT'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU NAILED IT IN THAT IT'S NOT A SAVINGS. 
          AND SO IF YOU SAY OKAY WELL WE'RE JUST HAVING A ROUGH YEAR WE CAN'T INVEST IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE THAT MONEY WILL STILL FIND IT'S WAY TO YOU. BUT IT WILL FIND IT'S WAY TO YOU ON THE PRIVATE BAR SIDE. AND SO YOU WILL STILL CONTINUE TO DIG YOURSELF INTO THIS SITUATION WHERE WE OVERRELY ON THE PRIVATE BAR. IT FEELS LIKE A HEAVY LIFT IN THE MOMENT WHEN WE ARE STILL PRETTY RELIANT ON THE PRIVATE BAR AND INVESTING IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE BUT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT. AND SO I THINK THAT THE INVESTMENT HERE IS GOING TO PAY OFF FOR US IN THE LONG RUN AS IT REDUCES OUR OVERRELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE BAR. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> AND LOOKING AT THE OFFSETS THAT YOU SUBMITTED PART OF THAT WAS NONLABOUR CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT THAT NONLABOUR REDUCTION WOULD HAVE ON THE OFFICE AND WHAT EXACTLY THAT COVERS AND HOW IT WOULD BE REALIZED ON OPERATIONS. 
          >> SURE. AS YOU HAVE SAID, WE HAD A VERY SMALL PART THAT WAS NONLABOR. OUR BUDGET DID NOT HAVE 8% THAT'S NONLABOR. WE HAD TO PROPOSE SOMETHING THAT CUT INTO LABOR. WE DID OUR OFFSET AS A PACKAGE SO WHAT I SAID WAS THAT WE WOULD DO A MOUNTAIN AND I COULD TAKE A LOOK EXACTLY WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION DOLLARS IN ATTORNEYS SO ACTUAL OPEN POSITIONS WE JUST WOULDN'T FILL THOSE POSITIONS AND THEN WHAT WE COUPLED IT WITH IS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN LITIGATION FEES IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ATTORNEYS THEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPERT FEES YOU'RE NOT DOING THOSE CASES AND SO HOURS IS ACTUALLY COUPLED TOGETHER. 
          WHAT I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF IS THAT WE GET HIT WITH THE OFFSET FOR THE NONLABOUR BUT THEN WE GET THE ACTUAL ATTORNEYS THOSE 
          [03:50:03]
EXPERT FEES ARE ENCOURAGED STILL WE ACTUALLY DID OURS AS A PACKAGE DEAL. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT TO THE ATTORNEYS THAT WE DO BRING ON AND THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE THE CASES IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF 
          MY TIME. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAD 2 MINUTES 
          AND 42 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I DON'T THINK THIS WILL TAKE THE WHOLE 2 MINUTES AND 42 SECONDS WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST BUDGET CHALLENGE THIS YEAR LOOKING BACK ON YOUR FIRST YEAR. 
          >> MY BIGGEST BUDGET CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY IS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS RECRUITING FOR EXPERIENCED AND SPANISH SPEAKING ATTORNEYS AND SO WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO INCLUDE IN OUR BUDGET A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE THAT SPECIAL SKILL SET. 
          THERE IS ALREADY INCENTIVE PAY THROUGH THE COUNTY BUT IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT AND SO WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE FOR THAT SKILL. AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS HAVING THE RESOURCES AND THE FUNDS TO RECRUIT EXPERIENCED AND SPECIALTY. 
          >> THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          NEITHER PRECINCT THREE NOR PRECINCT FOUR HAD ANY REMAINING TIME. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU HAVE 
          11 SECONDS REMAINING. >> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND BEING HERE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD 2 MINUTES 
          AND 4 SECONDS REMAINING. >> LOOKING AT THE YEAR AHEAD DO YOU INTEND ON MAKING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGY I KNOW YOU MENTIONED GEOGRAPHICALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SPACES TO FILL SPECIFIC NEEDS, ARE YOU -- DO YOU PLAN ON PIVOTING AT ALL IN YOUR STRATEGY OR ARE THINGS 
          GOING WELL? >>  THINGS ARE GOING WELL BUT WE DO PLAN TO EXPAND OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. 
          BECAUSE POST BAR RECRUITING WAS RELATIVELY NEW IN OUR OFFICE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME INVESTING IN THAT PROGRAM AND MAKING SURE THAT TRAINING PROGRAM WAS ROBUST AND LAWYERS FELT PREPARED WHEN THEY BEGAN. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE JUST AS HEAVY A FOCUS ON LATERAL HIRING AND HOW WE RECRUIT IN THAT SPACE. AND SO I WILL BE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR CURRENT RECRUITING DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE SHE'S ABLE TO DO THAT AND FOCUS ON POST BAR BUT ALSO PUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EMPHASIS ON OUR LATERALS THAT WOULD BE THE PIVOT THAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. AND SO BE ABLE TO PUT AS MUCH 
          EFFORT INTO THAT. >> THANK YOU THAT'S ALL THE 
          QUESTION I HAVE. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE QUESTIONS OF THIS PRESENTATION. 
          CHIEF DRAPER YOU NOW HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. 
          >> COMMISSIONER'S BEFORE I CLOSE I WANT TO THANK THIS COURT FOR YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THE PROGRESS WE SHARED IS BECAUSE OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN A STRONG ACCOUNT PUBLIC DEFENCE SYSTEM. AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS THEY HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATORS AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CARE THEY HAVE DEVOTED TO UNDERSTANDING OUR OFFICE AND NEEDS AND VISION FOR GROWTH AS YOU CONSIDER OUR REQUEST I WOULD SIMPLY LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT, DEFENCE IS NOT OPTION. IT'S A STATUTORY OBLIGATION. 
          HARRIS COUNTY WILL SPEND THESE DOLLARS REGARDLESS THE QUESTION IS WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE INVESTED WE BELIEVE THE BEST INVESTMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE FIXED COSTS, MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND INSTITUTIONAL EXPERTISE AND CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THIS COURT AND THE PUBLIC. 
          WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISH IN THE JUST ONE YEAR BUT EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING IN AUGUST TO SHARE OUR 5 YEAR STRATEGIC GROWTH PLAN AND ROAD MAP OF CONTINUED EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC DEFENCE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF TAX PAYERS DOLLARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> THANK YOU, CHIEF AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL BE 
          FROM MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL. >> WELCOME OFFICE OF MANAGED 
          [Office of Managed Assigned Counsel]
          [03:55:12]
ASSIGNED COUNCIL. THIS DEPARTMENT HAS ELECTED TO SPLIT THEIR TIME TO HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT THREE. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER'S COURT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUDGET OFFICE. I'M PORSCHA BROWN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE OFFICE OF ASSIGNED COUNCIL BETTER KNOWN AS THE MAC AND I'M HERE AS CHIEF OF STAFF AND HOLISTIC DEFENCE DIRECTOR. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF DEDICATED MAC STAFF AND OUR MAC PANEL ATTORNEYS WHO WORK EVERYDAY TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CLIENTS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANORS THROUGH A WHOLISTIC DEFENCE MODEL WITH ATTORNEYS BEING CONNECTED WITH INHOUSE SOCIAL WORKERS WHERE CONSTITUTIONALLY AD VIRS REVISALS AND CONNECTIONS WITH INVESTIGATORS AND THE RESULTS BETTER CASE OUTCOMES. LESS DAYS IN JAIL, LINKING THEM TO A SHELTER, MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE THING WE'RE MOST FOCUSED ON, QUALITY REPRESENTATION. 
          TO DATE WE HAVE EXPANDED PANEL ATTORNEY LIST TO 225 ATTORNEYS WITH MORE THAN 40 INVESTIGATORS AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED FAIR AND UNBIASED APPOINTMENTS IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE FAIR DEFENCE ACT. 
          OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE MAC HAS IMPROVED PARTNERSHIP ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, OUR LOCAL CRIMINAL DEFENCE BAR, THE HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AND THE TEXAS DEFENCE COMMISSION AND MACES ACROSS THE NATION AND JUDICIARY. ADDITIONALLY WORKING CLOSE WITH OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES, THE BUDGET OFFICE, OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, PRETRIAL SERVICES AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH. TO DATE THIS LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATION HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR IDENTIFYING GAPS AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR SOLUTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY GUIDE US TO WHAT ENGINE DEFENCE CAN AND WILL LOOK LIKE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THE NATIONAL GOLD STANDARD. AS WE PREPARE FOR FY27 WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS INVESTMENTS ON THE CONTINUED VALUE THESE WILL PRODUCE MEASURABLE RESULTS INCLUDING REDUCING THE APPOINTMENT PROCESSING TIME, IMPROVING QUALITY OF DEFENCE THROUGH ENHANCED ATTORNEY SUPPORT AND STRENGTHENING OUR VOUCHER PROCESSING WHICH I'M PROUD TO TALK ABOUT IS FIVE STAGE REVIEW AND NOTED AS BEST PRACTICE BY THE COUNT'S OFFICE. AND BETTER SERVE HARRIS COUNTY BOTH EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR THE CLIENTS. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT THREE. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR BROWN. 
          I'M NICK AND PRECINCT THREE, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I KIND OF COVER A BROAD STROKE OF THINGS. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE MAC UNDER DIRECTOR HARDEN AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF WHAT Y'ALL DO. 
          NOT NECESSARILY INTERESTED IN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT REDUCING YOUR BUDGET BECAUSE I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IS REALLY AN OPTION. BUT MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU WOULD BE ABOUT THE GALLAGHER STUDY AND THE IMPACT THAT IS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT AND THE ATTRITION AS IT RELATES TO GALLAGHER. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR INDICATING CUTTING OUR BUDGET WOULD BE BAD. 
          WE AGREE. ESSENTIALLY THE GALLAGHER STUDY WAS WONDERFUL. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE TO WORK WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT, THEY ALWAYS ANSWERED OUR PHONE CALLS AND TOOK MY CHIEF OF STAFF'S INQUIRIES INTO THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THEY WERE ASSESSING HOW FOLKS WERE BEING PAID AND ALSO LONISTENED TO US ABOUT RETENTION. 
          THE MAC WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF SPECIALIZED SKILL SET OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK THERE WHO YOU DON'T SEE ACROSS THE COUNTY AND A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT ONLY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND MY OFFICE HOLD AND THAT'S REALLY SPECIALIZED INCLUDING OUR PROGRAM COORDINATORS, THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE COURTHOUSE EVERY SINGLE STEP IS SO IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL. WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE AT LEAST 60% OF OUR OFFICE WAS IMPACTED THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE WHEN IT COMES TO IMPACT. WE'RE A TEAM OF A LITTLE OVER 20 PEOPLE. AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IF ONE OF US IS UNHAPPY, OR DOESN'T FEEL VALUED IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS RISK. 
          >> AND SO ATTRITION IS DOING WELL. 
          >> IT'S DOING WELL. >> OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. 
          [04:00:01]
OKAY AND SO I GUESS I MIGHT HAVE SPOKE A LITTLE EARLY DIRECTOR RAMOS DO YOU THINK WHAT I ASKED EARLIER ABOUT CUTTING IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS EVEN AN OPTION AT THIS POINT?   
          RECOMMENDATIONS TO CUT BACK. >> SO EARLIER YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME WITH THE DA AND JUDGE DRAPER, ABOUT BIG IDEAS AND AS IT RELATES TO THE WHOLE COURT SYSTEM OVER ALL IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU -- THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT COULD HELP -- WE COULD IMPLEMENT THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE OR REVOLUTIONIZE THINGS AND SPEED THINGS ALONG? YOU KNOW, MAKE -- GREASE THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE. 
          >> THAT MAKES SENSE. AND SO IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGH MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER TODAY AND BASICALLY ANY KIND OF SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN HAVE ONE ATTORNEY WHO'S HANDLING A MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY AT THE SAME TIME THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR CLIENTS IF YOU HAVE TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE DAY YOU WERE ARRESTED OR SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT EXPERIENCE EVEN HARDER AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ATTORNEY THEY CAN HANDLE EVERY SINGLE THING AT ONCE THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE BETTER LESS RESETS AND LESS TIME IN GENERAL FOR THEM TO GET TO THIS IDEAL OUTCOME AND SO ANY KIND OF SYSTEM CHANGE THAT IS WE CAN DO TO THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE OUR PRODUCTIVITY TREMENDOUSLY AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT CHIEF DRAPER DISCUSSED IS THE FACT WE'RE TALKING AND WE'RE NOT IN SILOS THAT WE WERE IN THE PAST WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART WHEN YOU HIT ONE DOMINO IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IT EFFECTS EVERY SINGLE TIME. 
          IN GENERAL WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SOLUTION-BASED. 
          >> OKAY. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALEX LAW I'M WITH THE POLICY TEAM AT PRECINCT FOUR. SO GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE TODAY AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU'VE ALL DONE HELPING TO BRING DOWN THE BACKLOG I KNOW YOU'RE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM WORKIING OVER THERE. 
          COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THAT ATTORNEYS ARE PROVIDING QUALITY 
          REPRESENTATION TO THEIR CLIENTS? >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          WE HAVE A WHOLISTIC DEFENCE MODEL HERE AT THE MAC WHAT THAT MEANS WE IMPLEMENT SOCIAL WORKERS, INVESTIGATORS, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS INSTEAD OF JUST RESOLVING YOUR CASE TODAY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE; RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO ULTIMATELY HAVE ISSUES AND HAVE TO RETURN OVER AND OVER. OR IF THEY -- WHEN THEY DO GET OUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND TRANSPORTATION TO COME BACK TO COURT OR NEED MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ONE THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE IMPLEMENT FOR THE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND LOOKING AT THE CLIENT AS A FULL PERSON. 
          I THINK IT'S CRITICAL FOR ANY MAC OFFICE AND PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND I'M SO PROUD BOTH ENTITIES HAVE THAT AS A FOCUS POINT FOR HOW IT TREATS AND SERVED CLIENTS. 
          >> AWESOME. AND I KNOW YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON HOW THIS IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND YOU WORK WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS. COULD YOU JUST EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THAT IDEA AND WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE TO SORT OF IMPROVE PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE BOARD. 
          >> RIGHT. SO YEAR OVER YEAR, I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE AN 100% IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION. 
          THAT'S ONLY WITH THE COURT OFFICES BUT THAT'S ALSO WITH THE JUDICIARY. SIMILAR TO CHIEF DRAPER I'M ALSO MEETING WITH THE COURTS ONE BY ONE AS WELL AS WITH THE COLLECTIVE SO THE JUDGES ARE PROBABLY THINKING WOW WE SEE A LOT OF PORSCHA AND GENESIS AND THAT'S OKAY, THAT'S GOOD; RIGHT? SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE WHEN NECESSARY. 
          IN GENERAL ALSO WORKING WITH THE DEFENCE BAR AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT IMPACT THEN SO WE CAN HAVE RETENTION OF THE PRIVATE ATTORNEY THAT IS DO WORK FOR THE MAC. 
          WE HAVE 225 ATTORNEYS THAT IS UNHEARD OF IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THERE ARE MANY MACES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT TO WORK IN THOSE ROLES. 
          IDEALLY THE SYSTEM OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND MAC IS WHERE YOU WANT THINGS TO BE BECAUSE YOU WANT THE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THEY HAVE TO EXIST AS DOES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND SO THAT'S BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENT ADDITIONALLY WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND WORK WITH THE NUMBERS AND SEE WHERE WE CAN HAVE COST SAVINGS AND COST SHIFTING HAS BEEN REALLY CRITICAL AND IN ADDITION WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AS WELL AS DISTRICT COURTS TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE AND ADDRESS OUR VOUCHERS. 
          >> AND MY LAST QUESTION FOR NOW IS SPEAKING OF VOUCHERS COULD YOU JUST EXPAND A BIT ON WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF VOUCHER TRENDS SUBMITTED AND THE IMPACT OF ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL 
          VOUCHER REVIEW SUPPORT. >> I WANT TO SAY NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR THAT POSITION. THAT WAS CRITICAL. 
          LAST YEAR WE HAD SOME HURDLES AND WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME 
          [04:05:04]
THOSE AND TO HAVE ANOTHER VOUCHER ASSISTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FIVE STAGE PROCESS AND DO IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. 
          WE CAN EXPECTING BY THE TIME WE COME BACK FOR STRATEGIC UPDATE IN AUGUST WE WILL BE WORKING AT VERY BEST CAPACITY PROCESSING VA VOUCHERS WITHIN ONE WEEK. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR 
          QUESTIONS. >> HI, MEGAN WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. YOU MENTIONED 225 TORNS YOU HAVE 
          ON THE LIST NOW. >> YES. 
          >> FANTASTIC, GREAT WORK. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE AT ALL THAT ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT HANDLE THESE TYPES OF CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE AND THIS IS OUT OF LEFT FIELD SO I UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON'T HAVE 
          THAT NUMBER. >> I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ASK. 
          WE'RE NOT TELLING 225 PEOPLE TO GO TO COURT ON MONDAY AT 9 A.M. 
          WE ARE BASICALLY THE PDO IS A FIXED COST. 
          AND THEY ARE A FIXED APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE CASES INITIALLY AND THEN THE MAC COMES IN AND WE ALSO THEN APPOINT AFTERWARDS AND SO BASICALLY YOU KNOW WE CAN'T HAVE EVERYONE THERE IN COURT EVERYDAY BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALSO INCREASE COSTS AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER WE PUT IN THE COURT FOR THOSE SPECIFIC DAYS IS EFFICIENTLY DONE; RIGHT? IF IT TAKES THREE  ATTORNEYS TO BE IN COURT THAT'S WHO WE'RE GOING TO SEND TO COURT THAT DAY. TORNS DON'T WANT TO BE WAITING AROUND EITHER THEY WANT TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. 
          RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MORE THAN 50% DECLARE FOR 100% OF THEIR CASES TO BE MAC WHICH IS WONDERFUL LIKE I SAID IN OTHER COUNTIES IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE THESE KIND OF RETENTION STRIDES AND THEN ADDITIONALLY OVER THE LAST ONE YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAVE OVER-100 ATTORNEYS WHO ARE DECLARING 90 % ACTIVE AND SO THOSE ARE VERY GOOD NUMBERS AND LIKE I SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RETAIN THIS TALENT. WE TWWANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BILINGUAL SPEAKERERS AND ATTORNEYS WITH SPECIFIC SKILL SETS THEY CAN HELP YOU THE AND GUIDE OTHER TATTORNEYS INCLUDIN RESOURCE STAFF TO SUPPORT ATTORNEYS. 
          >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. I WANT TO ASK MORE ABOUT YOUR VAWCHER PROCESS AND AUDITOR HAS DECLARED IT 5 STARS. 
          WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT SUCH. 
          >> YES SO THE AUDITOR HAS INDICATED WE'RE WORKING WITHIN BEST PRACTICES. THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY HMAC'S OFFICE THE CREATED THE SYSTEM FROM SCRATCH AND SO IT'S BEEN ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT AND USUALLY THE BIGGEST THING HAS BEEN HOW MANY HOURS IS SOMEONE WORKING IN ONE DAY SO THAT WE CAN ACTIVELY MANAGE CASE LOADS. 
          ACTIVELY MANAGING CASE LOADS A BIG DEAL FOR MACES AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICES ACROSS THE NATION. 
          INITIALLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ATTORNEYS AREN'T OVERWORKED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HANDLE CASES IN EFFECTIVE WAY AND DO ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO ADVOCATE TO GET THE DISMISSAL AND NOT GUILTY BUT ALSO YOU'RE NOT SPINNING YOUR WHEELS BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TO WORK A TREMENDOUS CASE LOAD. 
          AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE VAWCHERS TO CHECK AND SEE THE 
          HOURS OVER TIME AS WELL. >> AND SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS IF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PROVIDED SPECIFICS LIKE WHAT EXACTLY 
          MAKES IT BEST PRACTICE? >> AND SO I THINK IT'S THE FIVE STAGES. SO IT'S FIVE SEPARATE SCREENS AND THEN THE LAST SCREEN IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE DIRECTOR REVIEW BECAUSE WHEN I CAME IN I TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO TAKE FEEDBACK FROM THE JUDICIARY, FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE WHAT ARE SO THE THINGS WITH VOUCHERS THAT YOU THINK ARE WORKING AND NOT WORKING. IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS BUT ALSO SEEING WHERE ATTORNEYS ARE BEING VERY EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO TWO SETTINGS GET AN A DISMISSAL ALW THAT'S GOING TO BE MAKE ME HAPPY AND THE CLIENTS HAPPY THEY DON'T HAVE TO MISS WORK AND FIND A BUS TO TAKE THEM DOWNTOWN AND GO TO COURT AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS SO THOSE CERTAIN THINGS, YOU KNOW, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS ALWAYS TELLING ME SO FASCINATING ABOUT HOW THE NUMBERS RELATE BACK TO THE CLIENTS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. WE WANT TO SEE THE IMPACT POS POSITIVELY AFFECT THE CLIENTS. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND CAN YOU SPEAK BRIEFLY TO SOME OF YOUR GREATEST SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES SINCE TAKING THIS OFFICE? I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN TERRIBLY LONG BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK. 
          >> I'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF FUN. 
          THE STAFF, WE RUN WITH JUST OVER 20 PEOPLE AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO WORK AND DO A LOT OF IMPACT. IT'S INCREDIBLE. 
          AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GALAN AND HIS ROLE AND BEING ABLE TO CONNECT US WITH NATIONWIDE AND STATE WIDE STAKEHOLDERS. 
          IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS YEAR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE MAC 
          [04:10:01]
AND OUR TEAM AND SOME OF OUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNICATION LEVEL. AND ALSO BEING INNOVATIVE IN HOW WE COMMUNICATE SO WE'RE WORKING WITH SCALES PROGRAM WE LOVE ACRONYMS HERE AT THE MAC BUT OUR SCALES PROGRAM BASICALLY IS A STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK COMMENT SYSTEM AND SO INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING FEEDBACK FROM ONE ONE OF THE 16 COURTS AND ONLY HEARING ABOUT THAT, WE NOW HAVE A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO HEAR FEEDBACK FROM ALL 16 SO INSTEAD OF JUST HEARING ABOUT ONE THING I'M ABLE TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS ONE THING ACROSS ALL 16. AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY FOR OUR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. 
          >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> RITA WITH PRECINCT ONE. DIRECTOR BROWN I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE NEEDS YOU IDENTIFIED FOR THE OFFICE STARTING WITH THE RESOURCE ATTORNEYS. 
          CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE NEEDS FOR THE RESOURCE ATTORNEYS AND WHAT AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF THE TORNS WILL ALLOW THE OFFICE TO DO AND ANY COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY ADDITIONAL 
          POSITIONS. >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND SO I WANT TO THANK OUR RESOURCE ATTORNEYS BECAUSE THEY WORK TIRELESSLY EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE COURTHOUSE PROVIDING THOSE ATTORNEY SUPPORTS AND ONE BIG THING THAT THEY DO IS RIGHT NOW THEY ARE HELPING OUT WITH ENSURING THAT APPOINTMENTS ARE RUNNING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THAT INCLUDES MAC APPOINTMENTS AND PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE APPOINTMENTS AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET -- YOU KNOW, A PUBLIC DEFENDER OR A MAC ATTORNEY WITH THEIR CLIENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS THAT DOCKETS AREN'T HELD UP; RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S A BIG ROLE THAT THEY ALSO DO BUT WE WANT TO SWITCH THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE TO A ROLE BY ITSELF AND SO WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR AN ASSIGNMENT SPECIALTY THAT WOULD BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE APPOINTMENTS ARE HAPPENING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND SECONDLY FOR THE RESOURCE ATTORNEYS RIGHT NOW WE RUN A VERY LEAN TEAM OF FOUR RESOURCE ATTORNEYS TO EVERY 225 MAC ATTORNEYS. 
          STATE WIDE THE TEXAS INJURY DEFENCE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS IT'S ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE ONE TO EVERY 35 AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 1 TO 50 SO RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ATTORNEYS ARE ABLE TO MEET WITH ATTORNEYS AND DO QUARTLY CHECK INS AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND WAYS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO LEARN AND THESE ATTORNEYS ARE ALSO DOING ALL OF OUR TRAININGS AND MAKE SURE ATTORNEYS ARE GETTING TRAINING THEY NEED. 
          WE'RE ASKING FOR THREE OF THE POSITIONS AND WE ASKING THE IMPACT TO BE SIGNIFICANT MEANING WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS THE NEXT STAGE, ACES, ANOTHER ACRONYM ATTORNEY EVALUATION SYSTEM AS WELL TO MAKE SURE ATTORNEYS ON THE LIST ARE EFFECTIVE AND 
          EFFICIENT. >> THANK YOU, YOU MENTIONED A POSITION I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT NEXT WHICH IS THE -- I THINK YOU CALLED IT THE ASSIGNMENT COORDINATOR OR COURT 
          COORDINATOR. >> WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THE NAME OF IT BECAUSE IT DOES SO MANY THINGS. 
          RIGHT NOW WE'RE LANDING ON ASSIGNMENT SPECIALIST BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS PERSON WHO CAN MOVE FAST AND ALSO 
          LIAISONING WITH THE COURTS. >> SO HOW EXACTLY IS THAT POSITION GOING TO HELP WITH LIKE IMPROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. ONE THING IT'S GOING TO DO THE QUICKER YOU GET YOUR -- YOU'RE NOT BE ABLE TO  ABLE TO START THAT BAIL PROCESS OR DISCOVERY OR RETRIEVAL. 
          THAT'S A BIG PORTION OF THAT PROCESS BUT ALSO THIS ASSIGNMENT SPECIALTY IS SOMEONE THAT CAN ALSO ANSWER ANY BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOLISTIC SERVICE THAT IS THE MAC PROVIDES ADDITIONALLY AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE ATTORNEYS ARE ABLE TO MEET WITH CLIEN CLIENTS AND TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AS I SAID BEFORE WE HAVE RESOURCE ATTORNEYS DOING THAT FOR UPWARDS OF 20 HOURS A WEEK ON A TASK WE COULD DO WITH JUST ONE POSITION AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO STRENGTHEN AND CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR MISDEMEANOR DIVISION IS AS 
          STRONG AS IT WILL BE. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          PRECINCT TWO, YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT MY VERY FIRST QUESTION, ACES. 
          SO MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO BUDGET BUT HOW DO YOU MONITOR THOSE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROVIDING THAT HIGH QUALITY 
          REPRESENTATION THAT WE EXPECT. >> AND THAT HIGH QUALITY REPRESENTATION IS KEY TO THE MAC. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO INFLUENCE AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND IT'S BEEN THROUGH OUR RESOURCE ATTORNEYS SO THERE'S FOUR OF THEM, THERE ARE FOUR FLOORS IN THE COURTHOUSE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO MISDEMEANOR COURTS AND THERE'S ONE PER FLOOR AS YOU CAN IMAGINE EVERYONE HAS DOCKET AT THE SAME TIME SO THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE EVERYWHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO BE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE IN THE WORK THEY DO PRESENTLY THEY ARE IN COURT EVERY SINGLE DAY MEETING WITH ATTORNEYS, TAKING THEIR PHONE CALLS, UP UNTIL THE NIGHTTIME AND ADDITIONALLY TOO IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET MORE POSITIONS WE'RE HOPING THOSE ATTORNEYS CAN ALSO 
          [04:15:05]
HELP OUT AS SECOND CHAIRS IN TRIAL WHICH WOULD BE TREMENDOUS 
          COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY. >> OKAY, THANKS AND GOING LAST EVERYONE ASKS ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN ASKED TODAY THAT YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ALL 
          KNOW. >> I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT 
          YOU JUST ASKED. >> GREAT. 
          >> YES. SO YOU ASKED ME ABOUT BEING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND HOW WE MONITOR THAT. 
          IT'S NOT JUST HOW WE DO OUR EVALUATIONS OF ATTORNEYS ONCE WE ARE STARTING THOSE IT'S ALSO WE LOOK AT THE VOUCHERS AND WE LOOK AND SEE THAT ATTORNEYS ARE ABLE TO FINISH OUT THEIR CASES IN A TIMELINE THAT MAKES SENSE. AND ADDITIONALLY AS WELL WE ALSO TAKE IN CLIENT FEEDBACK AND SO THAT'S WHY THOSE COMMUNICATION POINTS ARE SO KEY. WE WANT TO HEAR CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES AND SAID HEY MY LAWYER CALLED ME BEFORE MY COURT SETTING AND MADE SURE I KNEW WHERE COURT WAS AND HAD LINKAGES TO SERVICES. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE ALSO 
          MONITOR SUCCESS. >> WONDERFUL. 
          THANK YOU NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. 
          WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. 
          PRECINCT THREE YOU HAD 1 MINUTE AND 23 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> OKAY. DIRECTOR BROWN, I KIND OF FROZE UP THERE AT THE END ON MY LAST QUESTION, WOULD YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO MERGE FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR COURTS IF WE WERE TO GO BACK DOWN TO AUSTIN NEXT SUMMER. 
          >> THIS CAME UP EARLIER A LITTLE BIT TOO I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ONE ATTORNEY FOR MISDEEMER AND FELONY, VERTICAL REPRESENTATION AND SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT I THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE AND FOR THE CLIENTS NOT HAVING TO REPEAT THEMSELVES. 
          I'M HOPEFUL THAT IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE JU ADDITION THAT THEY WOULD ALSO BE IN SUPPORT OF 
          >>> THAT WHAT'S THE MAC LOOK LIKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS. 
          >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'M HOPEFUL WE WILL BE EXPANDING OUR SERVICE AREA INTO AREAS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN QUITE BEEN ABLE TO YIELD SUCCESSES LIKE THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS HAVE. 
          >> WHAT'S IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET Y'ALL INTO THE FELONY CO COUCO COURTS. 
          >> A LOT OF REVIEWING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE INCREASE IN CAPACITY FOR EXAMPLE MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATELY STAFFED VOUCHER TEAM IF WE WERE TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL VAWCHER AND ENSURING THAT FIVE STAR FIVE STAGE APPROVAL PROCESS M MAINTENANCES AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO INCREASE MONITORS AND OVERVIEW OF ATTORNEYS AS WELL AND, OF COURSE, ALWAYS IT'S GOING TO BE BUY-IN. 
          >> RIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THE JUDGES WOULD BE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THERE. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY. APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME. 
          >> AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO CONTINUED COMMUNICATION WITH OUR 
          STAKEHOLDERS AND THE JUDICIARY. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR, YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 41 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO ANY TRENDS YOU'RE SEEING IN THE NEED FOR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND YOU'RE OVER ALL CAPACITY TO HANDLE THOSE. 
          >> YES, THERE IS I MEAN FROM YEAR TO DATE WE'VE INCREASED OUR IMMIGRATION REQUESTS DOUBLE FOLD AND SO WE WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR GRANTING US A SECOND POSITION. 
          THAT HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE'VE HAD TWO IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS WE SAW OUR TIME TO GET IMMIGRATION ADVISALS AFTER THE REQUESTED TO THE ATTORNEYS SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY MOVE THE CASE ALONG. WE SAW THAT GO DOWN TREMENDOUSLY AND SO IT'S BEEN CRITICAL FOR US TO HAVE TWO IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HIRING A SECOND ONE 
          RIGHT NOW. >> GREAT I BELIEVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS JUST IN TERMS OF GENERAL SUCCESSES. 
          AS YOU'RE WORKING TOWARDS YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. 
          >> I WOULD SAY IN GENERAL, IT'S JUST BEEN THE COMMUNICATION KEY. 
          THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE EITHER HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT OR HADN'T TALKED ABOUT IN A CERTAIN WAY THAT HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL FOR US. 
          AND I THINK THE COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN A VALUABLE INVESTMENT AND I'M GOING TO USE A PUBLIC DIVERNED AS MY FIRST EXAMPLE AND JUST US SPEAKING ABOUT THE MAKING EVERYTHING AUTOMATIC FOR THE APPOINTMENT STRUCTURE WHEN IT COMES TO MISDEMEANOR THAT'S BEEN CRITICAL TO IDENTIFY HOW TO MAKE IT A SMOOTHER PROCESS AND QUICKER PROCESS SO WE CAN GET CLIENTS WITH THE ATTORNEY THAT IS THEY NEED SO COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE IT. 
          >> AGREED. WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU HAVE NO REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT ONE YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE 
          AND 41 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU DIRECTOR BROWN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE SO FAR IN YOUR ROLE AND TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL I KNOW Y'ALL ARE WORKING VERY HARD AND TRYING TO IMPROVE THE OFFICE TO BEST OF Y'ALL'S ABILITY AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT 
          JOB SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO YOU HAD 3 MINUTES 
          [04:20:03]
          AND 10 SECONDS REMAINING. >> NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES. YOU WILL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES 
          FOR CLOSING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU. 
          I'D LIKE TO AGAIN THANK THE MAC STAFF LIKE I SAID WE ARE LEAN BUT MEAN, MIGHTY TEAM RUNNING OF JUST OVER 20 INDIVIDUALS. 
          IN THAT 20 INDIVIDUALS THOUGH WE ARE ENSURING THAT 225 ATTORNEYS, 40 INVESTIGATORS AND SO MANY VA VOUCHERS ARE PROCESSED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN A TIMELY MANNER SO ATTORNEYS ARE PAID OUT AND WE CAN KEEP RETENTION FOR GOOD TALENT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I WANT TO HIGH LIGHT ONE THING THAT'S CRITICAL HERE IS THAT MAC'S AREN'T JUST IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THEY ARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PAN HANDLE AND ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND LARGER AREAS LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN AND I KNOW OTHER LARGE AREAS COMPARED TO HARRIS COUNTY ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF A MAC. 
          IT'S A COST FOR EVERY COUNTY IN TEXAS BUT WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IS AIC IIC IS  SYSTE THAT ADDRESSES HOLISTIC NEEDS TO INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED RECEIVE REPRESENTATION AND SO IN CLOSING I'M ASKING THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND FUND THE MAC AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN DEFENCE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH EVERYBODY IN AUGUST AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER'S COURT STAFF AND OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR ALWAYS ANSWERING OUR CALLS AND SPEAKING WITH US IN THE LATEST TRENDS AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THEM. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO THE OFFICE OF MANAGE FOR ASSIGNED COUNCIL. WITH THAT COLLEAGUES WE HAVE HIT OUR AFTERNOON BREAK. WE WILL RESUME PROCEEDINGS AT 
          >> WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 330 :30 P.M. AND WE ARE RY TO RESUME FOR OUR FINAL DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS FOR 
          [County Courts]
THIS AFTERNOON. WE WELCOME THE COUNTY COURTS AND THIS GROUP HAS ELECTED TO SPLIT THEIR TIME BETWEEN 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING 
          WITH PRECINCT FOUR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ED WELLS. 
          COURT MANAGER ER THE HARRIS COUNTY LAW OFFICE AND COURT MANAGEMENT. AND JUDGE MANPRY MONICA SING. 
          AND COURTS HOLD THE LINE BETWEEN ORDER AND UNCERTAINTY BETWEEN RIGHTS ASSERTED AND RIGHTS PROTECTED BETWEEN CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION WHEN COURTS WORK THE WAY THEY SHOULD BOTH ACCUSER AND THE ACCUSED GET TIMELY RESOLUTION, FAMILIES NAVIGATING LEGAL CHALLENGES FOR A FAIR FOREJUM, COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER AND COMMERCE IS ENHANCED. THE HARRIS COUNTY COURTS HANDLE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CASES EACH YEAR AND WE'VE GONE BEYOND THE DOCKET AND LAUNCHING PROGRAMS TARGETING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME. THAT COMMITMENT IS NOT WOWLT COST. TODAY WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH TARGETED REQUEST DESIGNED TO SUSTAIN OUR PROGRESS AND POSITION US TO DO MORE. OUR MOST URGENT NEED INVOLVES THOSE WHO STAFF PROBABLY CLAUSE COURT. 
          THESE ARE LICENSED ATTORNEYS WHO PRACTICE ANYWHERE AND INSTEAD THEY WORK ROTATING SHIFTS IN A JAIL FAMPT AT BELOW MARKET COMPENSATION. ORIGINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROBABLE CAUSE AND BAIL HEARINGS THEY YOU WILL -- AND ELECTRONIC HEARING DATA I DIDN'T KNOW PUT PREVIOUSLY DONE BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DELICATE CLERK'S OFFICE. 
          AND HISTORY VERY FE INDICATION REQUIRED BY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND WARRANT REVIEWS AND MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR UP 2030 PEOPLE PER HOUR AND EMAILED WARRANT REQUESTS AND PANDEMIC AIR PRACTICE STILL IN PLACE. AND COMPENSATION IS NOT KEPT PACE. TWO OF 15 POSITIONS ARE VACANT AND 10 MONTH JOB POSTING YIELD SO JUST THREE APPLICANTS. WE'RE ASKING FOR A SALARY INCREASE FOR OFFICERS TO COMBAT IN HIRING CRISIS. AND BY TRANSITIONED BY 5 CRIMINAL LAW HEARING OFFICERS. THESE WERE APPROVED BY A STOP GAP AND A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR 2027 AND THIS IS THAT PLAN. 
          UNLIKE SCREENING ATTORNEY OFFICERS ARE STATUTORY AUTHORIZED TO SERVE AS MAGISTRATES WHICH MEANS THEY CAN PRESIDE OVER DOCKETS AND APPROVE MATTERS THAT SCREENING ATTORNEYS CANNOT AND THIS MOVE WOULD EXPAND CAPACITY AND REDUCE DELAYS IN PC COURT. FINALLY WE ASK YOU TO REVILFT FUNDING FOR OF OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN. 
          IN DECEMBER 2024 THE COURTS JOINTLY ADOPTED A PLAN TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NO COST INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS OR PROGRAMS FUNDING 
          [04:25:01]
FOR THE PLAN WAS NOT APPROVED. WE'RE MAKING THE REQUEST AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE LANGUAGE SHOULD NEVER BE A BARRIER TO JUSTICE PARTICULARLY IN ONE OF THE COUNTRIES MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES WHERE 145 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN. AS GOOD STEWARDS WE URGE YOU TO SEE THESE REQUESTS AS INVESTMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF JUSTICE IN THE RIGHTS OF ALL HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. THANK YOU WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE 
          ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR WDIRECTOR WELLS. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES FOR ME. >> ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES I WANT TO THANK COUNTY CLERKS I KNOW Y'ALL WITH CONSTANTLY WORKING UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE TO ENSURE JUSTICE IS DELIVERED FAIRLY AND EFFICIENCY SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND ALL THE EFFORTS OF EVERYONE IN YOUR COURTS. TO KIND OF DIG INTO THE REQUEST THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT HEARING OFFICERS AND STAFF ATTORNEYS AND MAYBE WE CAN SUCCESS THEM SEPARATELY OR TOGETHER, WHATEVER YOU THINK IS MOST EFFICIENT. 
          WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO WORK ON THE HIRING OF THAT STAFF AND HOW THESE INVESTMENTS WOULD IMPROVE -- IF GIVEN GRANTED BY THE COURT HOW THESE INVESTMENTS WOULD IMPROVE COURT EFFICIENCY AND PERHAPS ALSO THE JAIL POPULATION. 
          >> SURE, THANK YOU. I THINK THE SALARY ISSUE IS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT WE HAVE 15 POSITIONS TODAY. 
          WE HAVE 2 VACANTSIES, ACTUALLY THREE ONE THAT WILL BE FILLED THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST BUT WE'VE HAD 15 POSITIONS FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS. WE'VE NEVER HAD 15 HEARING OFFICERS ON STAFF AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN HIRING PEOPLE. WE JUST DON'T GET THE APPLICANT IN COMPENSATION IS A BIG PIECE OF IT. 
          WE'VE HAD YOUNG MEETINGS WITH HRT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING WE'VE HAD A VERY BROAD SEARCH IN THE PAST BUT THE STAT STATUE FOR MORE HEARING OFFICES IS PRETTY SPECIFIC AND WHO CAN BE AN OFFICER WHO'S QUALIFIED AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING AS A HEARING OFFICER BUT THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IED SOMPENTATION. I MEAN WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE ST ST STATUE SAYS 5 YEARS AND HAVE TO LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE IDEALLY THAT HAVE 10 YEARS. 
          WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT MARKET WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH ATTORNEYS IN THE PDO OR THE DAS OFFICE AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THE MARKET. THE PRIVATE DEFENCE BAR AS WELL BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN COMPENSATION ARE EVEN LARGER THERE. AND SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE SOFTEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HEARING OFFICERS TODAY OR THOSE IN THE PAST HAVE TOLD US ARE PROBLEMATIC BUT A LOT OF THAT IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED; RIGHT? AND THE REALITY OF WORKING IN THE JAIL SUPPORTING A 24/7 OPERATION. 
          AND SO THAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE WE MOVE TO THE SCREENING ATTORNEYS THAT WERE AGAIN PROVIDED AS A STOP GAP THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT BECAUSE WE SIMPLY COULD NOT HIRE PEOPLE AND IDEALLY AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HEARING OFFICERS WOULD GIVE HEARING OFFICERS MORE FLEXIBILITY. 
          THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, ON THAT SPE SPECIAL LIST SO TO SPEAK SO THEY DON'T ACCRUE VACATION, SICK LEAVE, IF SOMEONE IS OUT A COLLEAGUE HAS TO COVER THEY ARE ALL WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK IF YOU'RE COVERING ANOTHER SHIFT LIKELY IT MAY NOT BE AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE GOING TO WORK YOU'RE GOING FROM DAYS TO NIGHTS, NIGHTS TO DAYS, WEEKS TO WEEKENDS, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY COVER ALL HOLIDAYS, ALL OF THE STORM EVENTS, PC COURT KEEPS OPERATING AND DOING SO TRANSFERRING THOSE OR TRANSITIONING THOSE SCREENING ATTORNEYS GIVES US THE FULL AUTHORITY OF THE MAGISTRATE WHICH IS A BIG THING. 
          THE SCREENING ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE A VERY LIMITED ROLE AT PROBABLY TWO THIRDS OF THE COST OR A LITTLE MORE OF A HEARING OFFICER AND SO IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT. 
          OUR COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW. WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BOOKINGS ON MISDEMEANORS. 
          THE TRAFFIC THAT GOES THROUGH PC COURT JUST GROWS AND GROWS AND 
          GROWS. >>> AND TO THAT END I KNOW Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITH HRT TO WORK ON RECRUITMENT FOR ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE YOU ALSO WORKING WITH IGA TO WORK ON WHAT THEIR LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THOSE POSITIONS -- 
          >> WE ARE HAVING PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS NOW IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. 
          WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT OBVIOUSLY BUT THERE PROBABLY 
          [04:30:01]
ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WILL MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER 
          FOR US IN THE FUTURE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          AND CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE EDITION OF 
          HOW THE NEW COUNTY COURT. >> DO YOU MIND , I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. I GET EXCITED BECAUSE I LOVE MY JOB. ANYWAYS, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY AND GIVES US A PLATFORM TO TALK ABOUT THIS. 
          WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND HAD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURSE IS THE EVICTION COURT. 
          IT'S BEEN AMAZING TRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY AND WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS COMING UP THE WAY IT IS NATIONWIDE WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE NEED THIS EVEN MORE SO AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- SORRY, JANUARY OF THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE ENACTED MORE LEGISLATION THAT IS RESTRICTIVE AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS TARGETED TOWARDS HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE WE'RE THE LARGEST COUNTY AND WE HAVE TO HEAR CASES WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN THE EVICTION COURT HAS TO STAY. 
          AND SO I KNOW WE ARE IN HERE A LOT TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T WORK WITH OUR COUNTY, EVICTION COURT WORKS FOR OUR COUNTY AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR PEOPLE AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THIS IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN A HUGE IMPACT IN THE TURN AROUND TIME FROM THE CASES. AND JUST BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, WHEN I STARTED ON THE BENCH IN JANUARY OF 2023, OUR -- WITHOUT EVICTION COURT I TOOK ABOUT 60 DAYS TO HEAR A CASE AND ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL COURTS, IT WAS JUST AN A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO US BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MANAGE OUR OTHER DOCKET AS WELL. AND NOW WITH THIS WITHIN 21 DAY WHICH IS IS LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT THEY ARE NOW BEING HEARD WITH THAT EXPEDITIOUS EFFICIENCY. 
          >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 35 MINUTES FOR -- 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> HI, MEGAN DALARDO WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE SEEN IN GETTING THE JBC COURT ROOM UP AND RUNNING AND I KNOW YOU TOUCHED ON HEARING OFFICERS ALREADY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT MIGHT GET AT THAT AND DO HAVE ANY SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS 
          THAT GET AT THAT. >> SO ON OUR END, THE STAFFING BOTH INCREASING SO THAT WE CAN BE FULLY STAFFED WITH THE CURRENT NUMBER OF POSITIONS BUT ALSO INCREASING THE CURRENT NUMBER TO 20. THAT WOULD BE A -- IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO IT WITH 15? PROBABLY. 
          BUT IT ALLOWS NO ROOM WHATSOEVER FOR SOMEONE TO BE OUT. 
          AND SO THAT'S ONE BIG PIECE BUT THERE ARE ALSO STAFFING CONCERNS FROM OTHER AREAS. THE SHERIFF AMONG THEM. 
          WE HAVE BAILIFFS IN THE COURT ROOM. 
          PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DELAYS AT PC COURT IT'S NOT JUST HEARING OFFICERS STARTING A DOCKET SOMETIMES IT'S DELIVERY OF PEOPLE IN THE COURT ROOM. SOMETIMES IT'S THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS STILL VISITING WITH PEOPLE PRIOR TO THE DOCKET SOMETIMES IT'S PRETRIAL SERVICES GETTING EVERY PLAYER THERE, THE DA PREPARING FOR A DOCKET, DISTRICT CLERK, ALL OF THESE THINGS. I COULDN'T TELL YOU IN THOSE OTHER AREAS HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY MIGHT NEED BUT TO RUN BOTH DOCKETS CONSISTENTLY IT WOULD TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO DO IT. THE BENEFITS ARE LARGE THOUGH; 
          RIGHT? >> THANK YOU. 
          AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE HEARING OFFICERS FALLS UNDER ONE OF THESE BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON YOUR TOP TWO TO THREE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS REQUESTS AND WHY YOU'VE RANKED THESE MOST CRITICAL AND WHAT IMPACTS WE MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE IF THEY 
          AREN'T FUNDED. >> SURE, WE'LL START AGAIN WITH THE HEARING OFFICERS. WHAT TAKES PLACE IN THE JPC IN PREPARATION FOR SOMEONE APPEARING BEFORE HEARING OFFICER FOR PROBABLE CAUSE AND SETTING A BOND, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT IS A VERY FULL AND I WOULD CALL IT A FRAGILE SYSTEM BECAUSE ANY ONE SMALL THING IN THE SYSTEM CAN CREATE DELAY. 
          AND UNDER STATUTORY GUIDELINES, DELAY MEANS DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT JUDICIAL REVIEW AND THAT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC. 
          AND SO THOSE -- THE HEARING OFFICER POSITIONS, THE TRANSITION OF THE SCREENING ATTORNEYS, THE NEEDS OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT THAT BECOME VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. 
          WE'RE RIGHT AT THE EDGE RIGHT NOW OF BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAPACITY COMING IN EVERYDAY. AND THAT'S WITHOUT A BIG EVENT. 
          YOU KNOW, WE WERE VERY, VERY CONCERNED WITH FIFA THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE DRAMATIC INCREASES FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME THAT WOULD OVERWHELM THE JPC, FORTUNATELY WE SAW INCREASES BUT NOT THOSE THAT SET US BACK A DAY. 
          THE OTHER THING IS, THE DOCKET STARTS LATE IT TAKES HOURS FOR 
          [04:35:03]
US TO CATCH UP SOMETIMES THE NEXT DAY OR EVEN LATER. 
          RUNNING THOSE DOCKETS AROUND THE CLOCK AND SO THAT IS I THINK THE -- IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN OF EVERY ONE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WE REALLY INVEST IN RESOURCES THERE TO MAKE THAT A MORE FORTIFIED OPERATION. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE RUNNING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IT ALLOWS EVERYTHING ELSE TO HAPPEN TIMELY. THE OTHER BIG ONE I WILL TALK ABOUT IS LANGUAGE ACCESS THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC IN COURT AND OTHER PLACES A LOT. THE COUNTY CONTINUES BECOMING MORE DIVERSE. IN OUR BUDGET, WE PAY FOR INTERPRETERS FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS, COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AND THE JUSTICE COURTS AND PROBABLE CAUSE. 
          ALL CRIMINAL MATTERS THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE FOR SPANISH BUT BACK TO THAT 145 LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN HARRIS COUNTY, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AND ADDING TO IT IS UNDER THE LAW WE HAVE TO USE CERTIFIED THROUGH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH LICENSED INTERPRETERS. SO THAT POOL IS OF WHO WE CAN USE IS VERY LIMITED AND SO WE'RE AT THAT PLACE TODAY WHERE WE PAY LESS THAN SURROUNDING COUNTIES SO INTERPRETERS TURN DOWN WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY. SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE. AND YOU WOULD THINK HARRIS COUNTY PLENTY OF INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE, JUST NOT THE CASE. 
          THE LIST IS RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE POPULATION. 
          AND SO WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE OUR RATES WHICH MEANS AN INCREASE IN BU BUDGET AT PROBABLE CAUSE COURT, HUNDREDS OF UNIQUE LANGUAGES A YEAR. 
          THAT'S A DIFFICULT TASK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 24 AND 48 
          HOURS. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 
          MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> RITA OSTRANDER WITH PRECINCT ONE. THANK YOU Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. 
          I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON THAT, YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU CAN'T COMPETE WITH ATTORNEY POSITION WITH 5 TO 10 YEARS OF EE EXPERIENCE WITH PDO OR PRIVATE PRACTICE WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE TO TAKE THIS POSITION OVER A 
          POSITION AT THE OTHER? >> I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO WORK THOSE ALTERNATIVE SHIFTS. 
          SOMEONE WHO HAS A PART OF THEIR CAREER PATH WANTED TO BE A JUDICIAL OFFICER. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT ONE OF THE LARGEST IS WHEN THEY ARE ON THE BENCH IN DOCKET, EVERY SINGLE THING THEY DO IS RECORDED, VIDEO RECORDED, AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS PUBLIC RECORDS THEY GET REQUESTS FOR IT ALL THE TIME, THE MEDIA, INDIVIDUALS, ATTORNEYS, IT APPEARS IN THE MEDIA USUALLY SOMEONE IS BEING EXTREMELY CRITICAL OF WHAT TOOK PLACE. 
          NOT ALWAYS. BUT VERY OFTEN. 
          BACK TO -- YOU KNOW, THE HEARING OFFICER POSITION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. YOU'RE MAKING BIG DECISIONS WITH LIMITED INFORMATION AND YOU'RE DOING IT VERY QUICKLY. 
          YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IS RECEIVED AT THE JAIL AND THERE'S A PERIOD TYPI TYPICALLY BEEN A HEARING OFFICER WITHIN 24 HOURS WHICH MEANS THE INFORMATION THAT IS COLLECTED HAS NOT CAUGHT UP WITH EVERYTHING YET. 
          GRANTED THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO WORK BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DETAIN PEOPLE ANY LONGER; RIGHT? AT THE SAME TIME THAT MEANS THEY ARE READING A TON OF INFORMATION, LISTENING TO WHAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TELLS THEM LISTEN TO WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER REPRESENTS TELLS THEM REVIEWING INFORMATION FROM PRETRIAL SERVICES AND MAKING MULTIPLE DECISIONS VERY QUICKLY AND IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HEARING OFFICERS HAVE ALSO BECOME SYSTEM ACTORS WITH DATA ENTRY INTO THE SYSTEM. 
          IT USED TO BE THEY MADE DECISIONS ON PAPER HANDED IT OFF AND SOMEONE ELSE DID DATA ENTRY. NOW THEY ARE DOING DATA ENTRY SO IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE, IT'S THE SYSTEM INFORMATION THEY HAVE TO INPUT, THEY HAVE TO BE ACCURATE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS IF THEY ARE INACCURATE SOMEONE CAN BE HELD AND SHOULDN'T BE OR SOMEONE COULD BE RELEASED AND SHOULDN'T BE. CONDITIONS OF BOND COULD BE INCORRECT. UP AN OF THOSE THINGS. 
          >> THANK YOU. NOW AS PART OF YOUR OFFSETS YOU IDENTIFIED A FEW VACANT POSITIONS. 
          CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHICH POSITIONS WOULD BE THE MOST PAINFUL TO 
          LOSE AND WHY? >> SURE, THERE WERE TWO IN PARTICULAR. ONE IS A POSITION THAT IS A COURT SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE JUSTICE COURTS DEDICATED TO 
          [04:40:01]
THAT. OUR ASSISTANCE COURT MANAGER WHO HANDLES THE CRIMINAL COURT IN THAT REGARD HAS TAKEN ON THAT ADDITIONAL BURDEN BUT IT'S A LOT, 16 INDEPENDENTLY EJECTED J -- ELECTED JPS AND STRETCHED FROM ONE CORNER OF THE COUNTY TO THE NEXT AND COLLECTIVELY ALMOST 300 STAFF THEY HAVE AMONG THEM. 
          THAT'S A BIG UNDER TAKING FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAD A FULL TIME JOB AND THEN SOME. THAT'S ONE THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL. THE OTHER IS RESEARCH ANALYST POSITION. COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE MEDIA, OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COURTS ALL THE TIME. THAT RESEARCH POSITION ALLOWS US TO DO REAL ANALYTICS ON WHAT IS TAKING PLACE, REPORT ON IT, IN THE PAST THAT HAS BEEN A PH.D. LEVEL INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD DO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND REPORTING. 
          WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY RIGHT NOW. 
          IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE OF THE HIRING FREEZES. 
          BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT COURTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO. 
          WHEN I LOOK AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY DON'T JUST HAVE A RESEARCH ANALYST. 
          THEY HAVE A TEAM OF RESEARCH ANALYSTS IN JURISDICTION THIS LARGE. WE DON'T HAVE IT. 
          AND WHILE I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES AROUND HARRIS COUNTY THAT DO IT, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW COURTS OPERATE. WE WORK WITH THEM, WE TRY ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, DO ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT SOMEONE THAT WORKS IN THE COURT HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT IT AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE LEARN SO THAT WE DO THINGS BETTER. 
          RIGHT? >> THANK YOU, AND I'LL RESERVE 
          THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. 
          PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, HEATHER CRUZ WITH PRECINCT TWO. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY. TALK TO ME FOR ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS. I AM SUBBING IN FOR MATT SO I'M NOT GOING TO CLAIM TO HAVE THE WHOLE BACKGROUND OF LANGUAGE ACCESS BUT I KNOW DANIEL AND ADMINISTRATOR CARTER WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR YEARS. 
          SO HOW IS IT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR YEARS BUT THE COURTS ARE STILL COMING AND ASKING FOR MONEY FOR 
          LANGUAGE ACCESS. >> I'LL RESPOND FIRST. 
          LANGUAGE ACCESS HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY FUNDED. 
          >> OKAY. >> SO THAT IS WHY THEY ARE ASKING FOR FUNDING. THE FIRST PART WAS A SCAN AND REVIEW, THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, AND THAT PART HAS BEEN DONE IN FEBRUARY THE COURT DIRECTED FIVE PARITY DEPARTMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PLANNING AND REVIEW, THOSE PLANS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. 
          SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS RELATED HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND SOME HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY THOSE DEPARTMENTS. 
          AND THINGS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED NOT ONLY FROM THE COURTS BUT ALSO FROM THE TEAM IN OCA BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BE FULLY FUNDED YET IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          >> OKAY. SO THIS IS A NATURAL NEXT STEP OUT OF THAT PLAN IS TO SEE ENHANCEMENTS THAT COME ASKING 
          FOR FUNDING. >> CORRECT. 
          AND I THINK IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN SOME MAJOR DES AGREEMENTS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND SCOPE AND SCALE AND SPECIFICS AROUND THE PLAN. SO THAT'S -- 
          >> THE BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS, THE NEEDS THERE IN THE COURTS. 
          >> SURE. SO WE -- AGAIN WE NEED TO PAY OUR INTERPRETERS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY SO THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES. 
          MANY IF NOT ALL OF THE COURT OFFICES BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT WE DID A RECENT SURVEY OF THE CONTINUOUS COUNTIES WITH HARRIS AND THE LARGER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS REGARDING HOURLY RATES FOR INTERPRETERS. WE WERE BEHIND IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE COUNTY AND SOMETIMES BY A FAIR BIT. 
          AGAIN, CRIMINAL MATTERS WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH OR UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. IN CIVIL MATTERS, ALWAYS A BEST PRACTICE. IF THE JUDGE THINKS THAT SOMEONE IS HAVING PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING ENGLISH, WE NEED TO PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER. AND SO THOSE NEEDS HAVE INCREASED DREAMICALLY AT THE SAME TIME THE POOL OF PEOPLE FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE HAS DECREASED. 
          AND THAT -- THAT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC. 
          I WILL SAY IN PC COURT AS AN EXA EXAMPLE, WHEN WE NEED SOMETHING OTHER THAN SPANISH INTERPRETER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WE TRY TO USE TELEPHONIC WHENEVER WE CAN BECAUSE THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE. THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT IS IF WE HAVE TO GET SOMEONE WITH LESS THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE, THE RATE DOUBLES. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. 
          AND SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO OUR BUDGET THAT IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL; RIGHT? WE DON'T CONTROL WHO COMES IN TO THE 
          [04:45:04]
JAIL. AND SO THAT'S A PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF. I'LL ALSO SAY THAT STAFFING AT PC COURT HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT. 
          AGAIN WE'VE HAD SOME INTERPRETERS THAT HAVE WORKED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT SOME OF THEM ARE RETIRING. 
          SOME OF THEM ARE DECIDING TO WORK ELSEWHERE. 
          OR THEY ARE DECIDING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK AS MANY HOURS FILLING THE HOLES HAS BECOME VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND FOR SPANNIC INTERPRETERS IN PARTICULAR AT PC COURT THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE THERE 24/7. 
          AGAIN THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THE INTERPRETER GOES TO WORK AT PC COURT THERE'S SOME KIND OF WEATHER EVENT, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY MAY BE STUCK THERE FOR A DAY AND A HALF JUST LIKE THE 
          STAFF; RIGHT? >> OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. >> BUT THEY ARE A CONTRACTOR. 
          >> MY OTHER QUESTION WAS AROUND AS TIME GOES ON AND WE GET BETTER AND FASTER AT WHAT WE DO, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY WORKED ON AUTOMATING AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE 
          YOU CAN AUTOMATE IN THE FUTURE. >> WE HAVE A TON OF AUTOMATION IN HARRIS COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTICE. 
          BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WE ARE STAFFED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY RELIANT ON THAT AUTOMATION. 
          AND SO ANY HICCUP WITH AUTOMATION SETS US BACK. 
          OUTSIDE OF AUTOMATION, WE'VE DONE A TON IN OUR COURTS AND I WOULD LOVE JUDGE FINCH TO TALK ABOUT HER SCHEDULING ORDER VERY BRIEFLY BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HELPED US REDUCE BACKLOGS AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE COURT THAT IS UTILIZE THE 
          PRACTICE NOW. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          JUST AS ED WAS INDICATED OR MR. WELLS WAS TALKING ABOUT WE DO USE SCHEDULING ORDERS AND IT'S ATE MATED WE DO CONTINUOUS PLANS AND IT CREATES A UNIFORM APPROACH TO ALL CASES. 
          THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE DEVIATION AND WE WILL DEVIATE WHEN NECESSARY BUT WHAT IT DOES IS SAVES TIME. 
          >> I THINK YOU CAN CONTINUE. I JUST CAN'T KEEP TALKING. 
          >> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THE RULES. IT SAVES TIMES AND RESOURCES AND CREATES TRANSPARENCY. AND SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS ABOUT NEXT STEPS THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND ARE ABLE TO COME TO COURT AND BE MORE PREPARED I'LL JUST SUM IT 
          UP FOR THAT. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> JUST ADDING TO THAT REAL QUICK WHEN WE REDUCE DELAY AND DISPOSE OF CASES IN A MORE TI TIMELY MANNER THE GOAL IS MORE OR BETTER JUSTICE IN LESS TIME AND ONE OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT IS LOWER 
          COSTS. >> M-HMM. 
          >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 
          5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, NICK RADEK, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR RAMSEY THANK YOU FOR THE MEMBERS OF JUDICIARY FOR BEING HERE TODAY DID YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON 
          CONVICTION COURT. >> I'M KIND OF SCARED TOO BECAUSE LIKE I SAID IT WORKS BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. 
          BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I'D RATHER 
          YOU GUY SQUOO >>  I WAS JUST LETTING YOU FINISH, IF YOU DON'T FIND I COULD USE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS I DO WANT TO TELL THAW  THAT WE REDID ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC. ANYTHING YOU DO TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY HELPS EVERYBODY ALL AROUND SO EVICTION COURT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE DID THAT WITH. 
          SO THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT LEAVE OUR COURT ROOM TELLS THEM EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE COMMUNICATING NEW SYSTEM AFTER THE 16 JUSTICE OF PEACE COURTS HAVE TOUCH IT HAD AND SO TO THAT POINT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALSO DONE 
          TOO. >> THE LANGUAGE ACCESS IS SOMETHING THAT I FIND INTERESTING. 
          I SPENT SOME TIME IN THE JAIL WITH MAJOR MILLS AND SHE TOLD ME A SITUATION WHERE SHE HAD TO HAVE SOMEBODY HAVE AN INTERPRETER FOR ASL AND I THINK FOR MANDRIN AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY WERE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY AND PROCESS THEM THROUGH THE COURTS. SO LIKE I SAID WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COURTS AND THE JAIL LIKE SORRY, THE JPC, THERE -- ARE THERE LIKE THREE TOP THINGS THAT YOU WOULD DO BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN THERE ONLY ONE OF THE COURTS WAS FUNCTIONING AND I WAS JUST SEEING YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO -- YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT LEVEL TO HELP WITH THAT? 
          >> SURE, AND IT GETS BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE HAVING THE HEARING OFFICE POSITION SUCH THAT IT'S FULLY STAFFED; RIGHT? IDEALLY AT THAT HIGHER NUMBER OF POSITIONS BUT THEN ALSO THE OTHER STAFFING FOR THE PARTNERS IN THERE, IN PARTICULAR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO'S CHARGED WITH MOVING PEOPLE, ACCOUNTING FOR THEM, ASSIST IN THE FACILITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS IF YOU SPENT SOME TIME THERE AND SAW WHAT THE OPERATION LOOKS LIKE, I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THAT SECOND COURT ROOM RUNNING ON A REGULAR BASIS WE NEED THE HEARING 
          [04:50:04]
OFFICERS OBVIOUSLY, THERE MAY BE A SMALL NEED FOR A DEPUTY DISTRICT CLERK AND AGAIN IT'S A 2 24/7 OPERATION. SO THAT'S MORE THAN ONE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO STAFF THAT AROUND THE CLOCK. 
          THE SAME WITH PRETRIAL SERVICES AND DA AND PUBLIC DEFENDER, SMALL NEEDS BUT THE BENEFIT FROM THAT SECOND COURT ROOM OPERATING AND COURTS OFFERING OVER LAPPING DOCKETS MEANS IF THERE IS A HICCUP, WE'RE BACK ON TIME AND I MEAN RIGHT NOW ROUTINELY WE SEE DOCKETS STARTING TWO HOURS LATE ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          AND THAT BACKS UP THE PREPARATION FOR AND THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT DOCKET AND THE ONE AFTER THAT. 
          AND THAT'S JUST PROBLEMATIC AND IF WE HAVE A HEARING OFFICER OUT, THAT MEANS THERE'S ONE IN THE COURT ROOM, MAYBE ONE IN THE OFFICE, WHO'S PREPARING FOR THE NEXT DOCKET, REVIEWING SEARCH WARRANTS, ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF DOCKET AND IT JUST SLOWS THINGS DOWN. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. 
          IT'S RESOURCE ISSUE. >> GOT YOU. 
          >> AND JUST REALLY I WANT TO SUM IT UP TO ONE WORD. 
          IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE QUITE HONESTLY. 
          >> I NOTICED. >> I MEAN THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS WITHIN THE COURTS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY BUT THERE'S NO GREATER NEED THAN SAFETY. HOW DO YOU PUT A DOLLAR SIGN ON SAFETY? AND THE REALITIES THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF OUR CRIMINAL COURTS SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON THE JPC THAT IS VERY FRAGILE. IT'S THE -- IT'S BUSTING OR BURSTING AT THE THREAD SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SOLVE THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO ALL CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. 
          >> OKAY. QUESTION 
          >> QUESTION FOR ALL THREE OF YOU. 
          IF YOU HAD ONE OPERATIONAL THING YOU COULD FIX IN THIS YEAR WHAT 
          WOULD IT BE? >> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE JPC. 
          I HAVE A LONG CHRISTMAS LIST BUT I WOULD SAY THE JPC BECAUSE IT'S 
          A SAFETY ISSUE. >> IT'S THE BIGGEST PRIORITY RIGHT NOW BY FAR. WE WILL SAY JUST IN GENERAL, THAT SPECIFIC RESOURCES IN AREAS THAT WILL HELP THE SYSTEM BE MORE EFFICIENT GET MORE EFFECTIVE. 
          WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING EXTREMELY THIN FOR A LONG. 
          OF TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, AT SOME POINT YOU REACH THAT PLACE WHERE IT STARTS TO IMPACT TAKING PLACE IN THE COURTROOM. WE DON'T WANT TO GET THERE BUT WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO IT TODAY. I SAY TARGETED RESOURCES BECAUSE WE NEED RESOURCES IN THE COURTS BUT THERE ARE JUST AS PARTNERS AS WELL. I KNOW -- I. FOLLOWED THE BUDGET AS MUCH AS ANYONE. I KNOW FUNDING IS EXTREMELY TIGHT BUT HARRIS COUNTY WANTS TO HAVE NOT JUST A GOOD JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT A GREAT ONE. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. 
          >> GO AHEAD. >> I WAS GONNA SAY, LIKE HE SAID, TARGETED FUNDING. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BASE PLANNING AND GETTING ... SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY THIS YEAR. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NO REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME OF WHICH THE ONLY COURT DOCKET STILL REMAINING TIME IS PRECINCT ONE WITH 25 SECONDS. 
          [LAUGHING] >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CAN I HIJACK THE LAST 20S? IS THAT OKAY? THE LAST QUESTION IS -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEPUTIES IN THE COURTHOUSE MEETINGS THAT WE ATTEND TOGETHER. 
          CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE WAS EVER RESOLVED NIGHT TIME SECURITY ISSUES, WE'RE GOING TO DO SECURITY CONTRACT, DEPUTY CONSTABLE'S -- DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? 
          >> HASN'T BEEN FINALLY RESOLVED. I THINK THERE'S MORE AWARENESS AND AT TIMES THERE'S MORE PRESENCE BUT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. 
          IT GOES BACK TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. 
          >> THANK YOU COURT OFFICERS DIRECTORY I HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR 
          CLOSING REMARKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM -- THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPACTS EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY EVEN THOSE WHO NEVER SET FOOT INSIDE OF A COURTROOM. 
          THAT IS WHY WHAT YOU DECIDE MATTERS BEYOND THESE WALLS OF THIS ROOM. TODAY YOU HEARD ABOUT A LONG VACANT HEARING OFFICER POSITIONS PUSHING THE PC COURT TO ITS LIMITS. YOU HEARD ABOUT HEARING OFFICERS WHOSE ROLES HAVE BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMED WHILE THEIR COMPENSATION HASN'T BEEN -- HAS NOT KEPT PACE. 
          YOU HEARD ABOUT THEIR LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN WE ADOPTED 18 MONTHS AGO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL WAITING ON AND NEEDS DESPERATELY. THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT CONCERNS THESE ARE DAILY REALITIES OF THE COURT SYSTEM HONOURING CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS WITH RESOURCES THAT WERE STRETCHED TO ITS LIMITS. WE HAVE DELIVERED ON EVERYTHING. 
          [04:55:01]
OUR COURTS MAINTAIN AVERAGE CLEARANCE RATES AT 100% IF NOT ABOVE. WE REDUCE LONG-STANDING BACKLOGS, WE LAUNCH PROGRAMS THAT GO DEEPER THAN JUST THE DOCKET CAUSING ISSUES THAT TRIGGER PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE COURT SYSTEM CAN WE HELP PEOPLE CHANGE COURSES OF THEIR LIVES CAN WE STOP THE CYCLE OF RECIDIVISM AND WE MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER HERE COULD WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE CAN WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE BUT WE'RE AT OUR LIMIT. 
          MY FINAL REQUEST FOR THE COURT IS THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE THAN WHAT WE NEED HERE WE'RE ASKING FOR EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP THE SYSTEM WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. 
          WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALMOST 5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CALL HARRIS COUNTY HOME. WHEN SOMEONE WALKS INTO OUR COURTROOMS REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE WHERE THEY COME FROM HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE OR WHATEVER IT BROUGHT THEM THERE, THEY DESERVE A SYSTEM THAT ENSURES THAT JUSTICE IS DELIVERED FAIRLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ON TIME. 
          THESE INVESTMENTS ENSURE JUSTICE FOR ALL REMAINS A REALITY AND NOT JUST A PRINCIPLE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET REQUEST AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PREVENT MORE INFORMATION. 
          >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION AND FINAL ONE FOR THIS AFTERNOON WILL COME FROM OUR JUSTICE. 
          [INDISTINCT] WE ARE READY TO BEGIN OUR FINAL 
          [Justice of the Peace]
PRESENTATION FOR THE DAY WITH OUR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
          WE WILL HEAR FROM EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS COLLECTIVELY AND SO THE TIMING WILL BE A LITTLE UNUSUAL AS TO THE REST OF THE FORMAT OF THE DAY BUT WE WILL BEGIN WITH JUDGE. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR PRECINCT 66-1. 
          I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO INTRODUCE -- [INDISTINCT] JUDGE CARTER ON ZOOM HERE MIKE TEST THERE WE GO HOPEFULLY WE HEARD THE BEGINNING OF COURSE, WE HAVE JUDGE STEVENS. JUSTICE COURTS HAD A BUSY YEAR BASED ON PROJECTED FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, JUSTICE COURTS SEEN A 50% INCREASE IN TOTAL FUNDINGS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AVERAGING A 7% INCREASE PER YEAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. WE COLLECTIVELY GRATEFUL TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR LIMITED IMPACT ON COURTS OPERATION BUDGETS LAST YEAR AND HOPE THAT WILL BE THE CASE AGAIN THIS YEAR DURING THE COURTS ARE SENSITIVITY TO THESE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND WE ARE PROUD COLLECTIVELY THAT FOR MOST OF THE JUSTICE COURTS CATEGORY RUN ON A VERY LEAN BUDGET DRIVEN ALMOST COMPLETELY BY LIBRARY EXPENDITURES. 
          95 TO 98% OF MOST JUSTICE COURTS DEPARTMENT BUDGETS ARE LABOR FUNDS. THAT BRINGS ME TO SOME OF THE 
          [05:00:02]
BUDGETARY REQUESTS FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR FOR MANY OF THE COURTS ARE REQUESTING AS WE HAVE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS A DEDICATED FULL TIME SPANISH INTERPRETER POSITION TO BE ADDED TO EACH COURT. THOSE COURTS DIDN'T MAKE THE REQUEST, SIMPLY DID SO BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS REQUEST BEING DENIED AND EVERYONE BEING AWARE AND SENSITIVE TO THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FACED BY THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME. 
          HAVING A DEDICATED LICENSED INTERPRETER IN SPANISH WHICH IS THE MOST NEEDED LANGUAGE WE HAVE IN EACH OF THE JUSTICE COURTS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL LANGUAGE ACCESS TO THE COURT USERS AND WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THESE REQUESTS. EVEN IF AN INDIVIDUAL COURT DIDN'T MAKE THE REQUEST, WE HOPE ANY CONSIDERATION AS TO A NECESSARY POSITION IN ONE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE UNIVERSALLY APPLIED TO ALL 16 JP COURTS DEPARTMENTS. 
          AS WE ALL CARRY THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. REGARDING SAFETY AND SECURITY CONCERNS, WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME TO THE COURT THE PUBLIC SHOULD EXPECT THEY WILL HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE FACILITY IN WHICH TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS PICK JUSTICE COURTS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO SECURITY THREATS. CURRENTLY I AM WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S ORGANISATION JUDICIAL THREATS DIVISION DUE TO A THREAT AGAINST ME. 
          WE DEAL WITH ALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION AS THE PEOPLE'S COURT. HENCE MY COLLEAGUE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS BUDGET YEAR FOR METAL DETECTOR SCREENING SERVICES AT THE ANNEXE. 
          SHE HAS THE EQUIPMENT TO SCREEN FOR DANGEROUS ITEMS. SHE JUST NEEDS FUNDING FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO CONDUCT THE SCREENING. WITH AS BUSY AS OUR COURTHOUSES ARE, WE CAN ALL AGREE THE LAST THING ANYONE WANTS IS FOR SOMEONE TO BE VICTIMISED AT A COURTHOUSE. 
          ANY EFFORTS THE COUNTRY CAN SUPPORT AT THIS TIME FOR MUCH NEEDED SECURITY PROGRESS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 
          WHILE MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO ISSUES AND FILING DISPARITIES, PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT TWO, THE NEED TO RECOGNISE THE INCREASED WORKLOAD APPLIES TO MOST OF THE JP COURTS. AS STATED EARLIER, FILINGS FOR THE SECOND HALF CALENDAR YEAR SHOW JUSTICE COURTS WILL HAVE 50% INCREASE IN TOTAL FILINGS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. 
          AS LEGISLATION CHANGES, AS THE COURTS GROW IN TERMS OF JURISDICTION AND ESPECIALLY AS WE BEGIN TO ENTER ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DURING THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER ALL JP'S REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF OR IT'S OBJECTIVELY NECESSARY. PRECINCT ONE PLACE ONE, JUDGE ERIC CARTER AND PRECINCT TWO PLACE ONE HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL POSITION TO KEEP UP WITH THE MASSIVE INFLUX OF CASES THEY HAVE SEEN IN COURTS IN RECENT YEARS. 
          WHILE FILINGS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS USED TO MIRROR EACH OTHER AROUND 50% FOR EACH PLACE ONE AND PLACE TWO COURT, TODAY, JUST CARTER'S COURT IS HEARING 93% OF THE TOTAL CASES FILED IN PRECINCT ONE AND THE OTHER ONE HEARING 82% OF THE TOTAL CASES FILED IN CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK, MOST OF THOSE NEW CASES ARE BEING FILED IN PRECINCT ONE PRECINCT TWO ARE NOT EVICTION CASES. 
          SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE JP COURTS, THE WAY THE LINEAGE GOES IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR COURTS, THE CASES WE HEAR ARE CRIMINAL CASES AND THE NEXT IN LINE ARE CIVIL/CASES IF YOU WERE TO BRING THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY IN THE NEXT IN LINE WOULD BE OUR CIVIL EVICTION CASES. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MASSIVE INFLUX IN CASES IN PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT TWO, THAT'S THE ORDER IT ALSO HAS MAINTAINED AND THE NEW TRANSMISSION OF CASES IN PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT TWO. AS I SAID EARLIER, OUR JUSTICE COURT BUDGET ARE PRIMARILY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY DRIVEN BY STAFFING NEEDS SO THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO DISCUSS STAFFING ISSUES THAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH TODAY'S BUDGET HEARING. 
          ALSO, WE ALL REQUESTED FUNDING FOR INTERVENTION RESOURCE CLERK. 
          AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, EVEN IF AN INDIVIDUAL COURT DIDN'T MAKE THE REQUEST, WE HOPE THAT ANY CONSIDERATION AS TO A NECESSARY POSITION IN ONE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE UNIVERSALLY APPLIED TO ALL 16 JUSTICE COURT DEPARTMENTS. I SAY THIS DUE TO MOST COURTS REQUEST THIS POSITION BEFORE BUT NEVER GETTING APPROVED. 
          SO BASICALLY THIS EVICTION RESOURCE CLERK POSITION IS A POSITION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY ALL COURTS IN THE PAST BUT BECAUSE IT WAS CONSTANTLY DENIED, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THIS YEAR, HAD SOMETHING THAT SOME COURTS HAVE NOT FOR THAT REASON DECIDED NOT TO ASK FOR IT AND FOCUS ON OTHER ASKS. THAT BEING SAID, I FELT THE MAJORITY OF MY 14 COLLEAGUES SHARE THIS OPINION THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HIRING OR USING COUNTY TAXPAYERS DOLLARS 
          [05:05:04]
FOR ANY EVICTION RESOURCE CLERKS THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSSED ON THE COURTS OR WE HAVE THE MOST EVICTIONS. 
          THE TWO THAT HAD AN EVICTION DIVERSION SPECIAL COORDINATOR WITH A CALL IT, THOSE WERE GRANT FUNDED PER THE COUNTIES NEVER HAD TO PUT UP TAX DOLLARS TO FUND IT UNTIL NOW. 
          SO IF WE'RE GOING TO START USING TAX DOLLARS, I THINK EITHER WE DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE OR WE USE THOSE TAX DOLLARS TO FOCUS FOR THE COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT SEE THE MOST ACTUAL EVICTIONS. THESE TWO COURTS UNFORTUNATELY SEE LESS THAN 2.5% OF EVICTIONS IN ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY APPEARED ON EVICTION RESOURCE WOULD PRESENT BENEFITS TO PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS IN EVICTION CASES, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GREAT WORK MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN DOING TO HELP BOTH PARTIES IN EVICTION CASES BEFORE I WAS EVEN ELECTED SIX YEARS AGO. SOME EXAMPLES OF THE WORK THAT OUR COURTS HAVE BEEN DOING EVEN WITHOUT EVICTION CLERK ARE, WE HAVE STARTED LEGAL AID AND USE EVICTION ADVOCACY CENTER AND BEFORE THEN WE HAD MANY OTHER LEGAL JUSTICE PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN BOTH PARTIES. 
          WE ALSO HAVE HOUSTON VOLUNTEER YOURS AND OF COURSE TO HELP DRAFT AND EXPLAIN RULE 11. MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES BRING IN THE HOUSTON DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER AND OTHER OUTSIDE VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS. SOME OF OUR COURTS BRING IN WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ASSISTANCE TO IDENTIFY EMPLOYMENT -- 
          >> TIME IS UP. WE CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO GO FAR 
          OVER THE TIME. >> BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IF WE DIVIDE 16 COURTS AND BASICALLY ALLOCATE TIME FOR ME AS A PRESIDING JUDGE TO SPEAK FOR 14 COURTS AND -- IT SHOULD BE 4 MINUTES AND 20S FOR ME AND 40S FOR HIM. 
          >> HE WERE GIVEN 7 MINUTES JUDGE. 
          >> BUT IF HE'S GOING TO GET 2 MINUTES TOTAL THAT WOULD MEAN I GET 14 MINUTES TOTAL IF WE WANT TO BE PROPORTIONATE ABOUT THIS. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? 
          >> IF YOU CAN CLOSE OUT YOUR STATEMENTS? 
          >> OKAY. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR WHEN I REPRESENT 14 COURTS AND THEY REPRESENT TWO AND HE'S GRANTED - 
          >> CAN I GIVE OVER SOME OF MY TIME FOR HIM TO FINISH UP? 
          >> I'LL WRAP IT UP. >> I'LL START WITH YOU. 
          >> SO WE MAKE GREAT STRIDES -- BASICALLY THE POINT BEING IS EVEN WITHOUT EVICTION CLERKS, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT ALL 16 OF US COURTS IN CERTAIN WAYS TO HELP BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED, A LOT OF THE COLLEAGUES EVEN BEFORE I WAS ELECTED SIX YEARS AGO SOME OF MY MENTORS SHOWED ME THESE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN UTILISE OUR CLERKS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING FOR US TO HELP BOTH PARTIES IN EVICTION CASES. SO THAT BEING SAID I'LL STOP THERE. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> SORRY JUDGE JOANN DELGADO, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK FOR 30S REAL QUICK. 
          >> FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE SUBMITTED OUR INCREASE IN OUR CASELOADS WHICH HAS JUST CONTINUED TO INCREASE. 
          THE INCREASE OESTROGEN AT THIS LEVEL, THE CASELOAD ARE COMPARABLE TO OTHER COURTS THAT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF STAFFING. 
          THE CENTRE FOR STATE COURTS REPORTED THAT WHERE THE DEFICIT OF EIGHT CLERKS AND THAT WAS QUITE SOME TIME AGO WHEN THAT REPORT WAS DONE. THIS WORKLOAD HAD SO MUCH STRESS TO THE CLERKS. ADDS TO BACKLOG OF CASES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT REDUCES THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE -- ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO THE CITIZENS OF PRECINCT TWO WHO I WAS ELECTED TO SERVE FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS. 
          WERE REACHING IN EVERY DIRECTION. 
          PROPOSED SERVICE OF ENHANCEMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF OUR COURT, BE GIVEN SOME CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU. >> AND NOW JUDGE BOB WOLFE FOR . 
          >> ON BEHALF OF THE TWO COURTS THAT -- I. THINK WE'RE UP TO OVER $500,000 TO DATE, COME TO THE COUNTY TO FUND FOR THE POSITION. AND THE JUDGES COURT --, WE ALSO WORK WITH OTHER COURTS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY AND WE'RE OPEN TO MATCH THEM WITH RELEASE AND RESOURCES. 
          THESE COURTS HAVE LONG BEEN OVERCROWDED AND UNDER-RESOURCED, DEFINED BY THEIR SHORTCOMING, SYSTEMIC POWER IMBALANCES. 
          WE SEEK WORKING WITH NATIONAL COURTS TO REPOSITION THE 
          [05:10:03]
COURTHOUSES, A PLACE WHERE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS IN CRISIS CAN CONNECT WITH RESOURCES TO HELP RESOLVE DISPUTES AND FIND PATHS TOWARDS HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. 
          REQUIRES CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION AND IT'S SOMETHING WE WORKED HARD ON AND DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. 
          WORKED CLOSELY WITH ADVOCACY CENTER AND EVICTION ADVOCACY CENTER AND HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AND I THINK I'LL GET TO SOME SLIDES IN A FEW MINUTES UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THOSE 
          NOW. >> CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDES? 
          >> WE'LL JUST DO THE ONES ON EDI. 
          THEY WERE SUBMITTED TO THE EMAIL THAT YOU ALL REQUESTED. 
          IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM IT'S NO BIG DEAL I CAN FOLLOW UP AND 
          SUBMIT THOSE LATER. >> WE'RE NOT PULLING THE PRESENTATION -- YOU CAN JUST SAY THE SLIDE NUMBER. 
          >> IT'S SLIDES ONE AND TWO AND THREE GO OVER A LOT OF THAT FROM THE PROGRAM. WE KNOW IT WORKS BECAUSE NUMBER 1, WE HAD ABOUT 6000 CASES FILED IN OUR COURT SINCE AND HELPED ABOUT A THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS BREAK SOME OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS AND LANDLORDS WERE OUTSIDE OF OUR PRECINCTS. 
          MY TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES PER QUESTION BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. 
          >> COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          WE HAVE SEEN REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COURT INTERPRETERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ACROSS JP COURTS WE'RE CONSIDERING THE COURT OPERATES EVERY DAY, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED OPPORTUNITIES TO 
          SHARE RESOURCES ACROSS COURTS? >> I THINK THAT'S A TOPIC WE'RE KIND OF ADDRESSING HERE TODAY AS FAR AS -- INSTEAD OF -- I HEARD DIFFERENT TOPICS OF CONVERSATION FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT REDISTRIBUTING CASES TO WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE, I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE TODAY TO, TO START LOOKING AT REDISTRIBUTING THOSE RESOURCES TO WHERE THE NEED IS. SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST DEFINITELY WERE AVAILABLE AND OPEN TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK WITH COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE ABOUT. 
          >> GREAT. FOR THE E.D., THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING ON THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF THE EVICTION DIVERSION INITIATIVE. WE'RE PROUD WE SECURED A MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL FUNDS FOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE EVICTION PREVENTION AND LEGAL AID WORK. 
          FISCAL YEAR 27. WE KNOW THE E.D. IS CRITICAL FOR RESIDENTS FACING EVICTIONS TO. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT DOES A WELL FUNDED EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM LOOK LIKE ELSEWHERE? AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO WHAT WE'RE FUNDING HERE? 
          >> I THINK THE OTHER GRANT SITES HAVE UNIQUE PROGRAMS WERE PROBABLY THE TWO THAT HARRIS COUNTY COULD LOOK TO FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH ARE HIGH VOLUME COURTS OR LAS VEGAS AND THE COUNTY IN ARKANSAS -- NOT ARKANSAS BUT ARIZONA WHERE PHOENIX IS. THEY ARE DOING IT THERE ON A MASS SCALE DEDI. THE ONE WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE COURT BASED. YOU CAN DO IT NON-COURT BASED, YOU CAN DO IT COUNTY WISE BUT TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JP IN COURT THAT IS INVITING OF ALL OF THESE RESOURCES UNLESS THE TIME AND SPACE FOR THESE THINGS TO PLAY OUT AND FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH RESO RESOURCES. 
          >> THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE'S 
          OFFICE. >> THANK YOU. 
          PRECINCT ONE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> RITA WITH PRECINCT ONE, YOU MENTIONED THREE COURTS THAT REQUESTED EVICTION RESOURCE CLERK, YET THE HIGHER VOLUME COURTS DIDN'T NECESSARILY REQUEST THIS POSITION AT THIS TIME. WHAT RESOURCES DO THOSE COURTS OFFER AND IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY DIDN'T SELECT EVICTION RESOURCES CLERK AS ONE OF THEIR SERVICE NEEDS REQUEST? 
          >> LIKE I SAID IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, THE REASON WHY AFTER SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE JUDGES THEY TOLD ME WHY THEY DIDN'T TRY TO REQUEST CERTAIN POSITIONS, OTHER POSITIONS AND OTHER FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO KIND OF BE MORE RESPECTFUL OF THE COUNTY'S POSITION WE'RE IN AS FAR AS DEFICIT AND BEING MINDFUL OF LESS NOT COME UP TRYING TO ASK FOR TOO MUCH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY DENIED SO MANY YEARS IN A ROW. 
          SO IT'S NOT COMING OFF AND TRY TO BE THAT ONE AGAIN. 
          BUT I THINK THIS YEAR THERE WAS A FOCUS FOR ME TO ASK FOR IT AND TO BRING IT UP ON BEHALF OF WHAT MY OTHER COLLEAGUES -- BECAUSE I 
          [05:15:03]
KNEW THE GRANT FUNDING WAS GOING TO BE RUNNING AND THIS WAS A POSITION THAT MOST OF US HAVE WANTED TO UTILISE AS AN EVICTION RESOURCE CLERK. IT'S THERE TO BASICALLY HELP ALL PARTIES IN OUR COURTS NOT JUST ONE PARTY. 
          THEY'RE THERE TO HELP ALL PARTIES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THAT POSITION TO ALLOW ALL OF OUR COURTS TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND HELP ALL PARTIES IN OUR COURTS 
          AND THE EVICTION PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. 
          NOW, YOU SPOKE TO THE LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS TO INTERPRETERS. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT COURT 
          OPERATIONS? >> BY LAW, REQUIRED TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRIAL. 
          TRYING TO BE CAREFUL WITH THIS COMMITTEE OF OUR COURTS UTILISE OUR CLERKS THAT MIGHT BE BILINGUAL CERTIFIED AND SOME ARE NOT EVEN BILINGUAL CERTIFIED BUT THEY ARE NOT STATE LICENSED COURT INTERPRETERS. IN THEORY, THAT COULD BE A REASON FOR A POSSIBLE -- AN APPEAL LATER ON OR POSSIBLY SOMETHING HAPPENING DOWN THE ROAD. 
          THE POINT BEING IS IT'S CRUCIAL. I KNOW SOME JUDGES THAT DON'T WANT TO USE THEIR CLERKS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THAT JEOPARDY OF EVER GETTING PLACED IN THAT KIND OF PRECARIOUS POSITION OR THEY COULD BE GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR USING A CLERK IN A POSITION WHERE ONLY A LICENSED -- CERTIFIED LICENSED INTERPRETER SHOULD BE USED IN A WINDOW POSITION WHERE THE CLERK COMES UP AND JUST -- I'M SORRY CUSTOMER OR CONSTITUENT COMES UP IN A PARTY ASK HOW DO YOU FILE THIS OR HOW IS THIS DOCUMENT IS THIS THOSE KIND OF ACTUAL AREAS, THAT'S WHERE WE CAN USE BILINGUAL CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES. 
          BUT IN COURT AND HEARING HIMES, IT NEEDS TO BE ACTUAL CERTIFIED. 
          >> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE COUNTY COURT BUDGET, A PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TO INTERPRETERS IN THE JUSTICE COURT. AGAIN, WITHOUT HAVING SOMEONE THERE EVERY DAY, COURTS AND DOCKET, SOMEONE APPROACHES THE COURT FOR A COURT HEARING, YOU DON'T KNOW THEY NEED AN INTERPRETER. YOU'RE GOING TO RESCHEDULE SOMEONE. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE AS A STAFF MEMBER WHO'S AVAILABLE TO DO THAT AND IS A LICENSED CERTIFIED INTERPRETER, THINGS MOVE FORWARD. 
          IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT CITIZEN TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COURT AT A LATER DATE AND MISS WORK AGAIN, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH THAT. SO ONE OF THOSE THINGS -- WE SIT IN THE COUNTY COURTS AS WELL, WE HAVE SPANISH INTERPRETERS THERE EVERY DAY. THAT MAKES UP PROBABLY 60% OF THE INTERPRETER NEED IN OUR COURT. 
          I WOULD IMAGINE AN ALMOST -- MAYBE NOT ALL BUT ALMOST ALL THE JUSTICE COURT, THAT'S THE BIGGEST NEED DAY IN DAY OUT AND NOT HAVING A ONE ON STAFF CREATES THIS ISSUE. 
          IT ALSO MEANS THAT COURTS ARE LOOKING TO ALWAYS FIND SOMEONE AS OPPOSED TO -- LOOKING FOR THE SAME RESOURCES WE ARE. 
          IF SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO WORK IN OUR COURT FOR WHAT MAY BE A DAY AND A HALF, TWO AND A HALF DAY TRIAL, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES ARE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO WORK FOR A ONE HOUR DOCKET OR TO OUR DOCKET JP COURTS. PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. 
          THAT'S PART OF THIS PROBLEM AND KEEPS COMPOUNDING ITSELF. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          IN YOUR OPENING -- MY LAST QUESTION YOU MENTIONED THE SEPARATE CASE FILINGS AND PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO. 
          BEYOND ADDITIONAL STAFFING, WHAT OTHER SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN 
          EXPLORED TO ADDRESS THAT? >> LET ME BE CLEAR, CASE DISPARITY AMONGST THE 16 JP COURTS, THERE'S NOTHING NEW. 
          PLENTY OF ACTUAL COURTS AND SPECIFIC PRECINCT AT ONE PLACE ONE HAS MORE CASES THAN PLACE TWO BUT THERE BUT JUST REFLECT THAT DISPARITY AND THESE COURTS HERE -- I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE, ERIC CARTER, TALKING ABOUT BOTH BUDGETS WELL -- THE BUDGET IS 2.9 BILLION, CARTER'S IS 2.8 MILLION BUT CARTER'S HANDLING 93% OF THOSE CASES. AND DELGADO'S COURT BUDGET IS 1.3 MILLION, ABOUT THE SAME 1.3 MILLION. 
          DELGADO HANDLING 82% OF THOSE CASES THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE AN ACTUAL DISPARITY IN THE ALLOCATION OF THESE RESOURCES TO PROPERLY HELP THESE CONSTITUENTS AND PARTIES IN COURTS. 
          SO I DON'T WANT TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THE DISPARITIES IN THE ACTUAL VOLUME OF CASES BECAUSE -- OUR BUDGET REFLECT THOSE 
          [05:20:06]
          DISPARITIES. >> THANK YOU. 
          PRECINCT TWO YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU. I THINK MOST OF MY QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE FOR JUDGE JUBAL BUT SINCE YOU WERE JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT DO YOU DO TO LEVEL UP THE COURTS? WHAT DO YOU TWO LEVEL OUT THE COURT -- WHAT CAN YOU DO? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT ADDRESSED HERE SO WHAT CAN YOU AS A DO TO LEVEL OUT THOSE COURT CASES SO THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU COME AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND ARE TALKING ABOUT? 
          >> SO WE COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR KIND OF A REDISTRIBUTION OF 
          THOSE RESOURCE. >> WHAT DOES IT TAKE, OF THE CASES HOW CAN YOU MAKE THOSE CASES? 
          >> I DON'T KNOW HOW. AS FAR -- THAT WOULD BE A STATE 
          LEGISLATURE I BELIEVE. >> THERE'S NOTHING LOCALLY. 
          >> COMMISSIONERS COURT ISSUE. WHEN IT COMES TO THE 14 PS IN HARRIS COUNTY BESIDES THESE TWO, THIS IS A PERCEIVED PROBLEM, NOT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. THESE COURTS CAN CONTINUE TO RUN UNDER THE SMALLER BUDGETS AND/OR THESE OTHER COURTS HAVE THESE EXACERBATED BUDGETS. IN THIS COURT STILL CONTINUE TO SEE WHEN YOU HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF DISCRETION SPENDING OR FUNDING AVAILABLE JUDGES THAT HAVE TAKEN CARS PEERCOCET JUDGES -- 
          >> IT'S NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION BUT THANK YOU. 
          >> MY THING IS, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE SEE AND 
          THEREFORE -- >> IT'S A PROBLEM YOU'RE ASKING MONEY. SO I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS A PROBLEM YOU GUYS CANNOT SOLVE ON YOUR OWN? YOU CAN'T LEVEL OUT THE CASES THAT EACH COURT SEE'S? 
          >> IT'S THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTIES, TO BASICALLY HAVE THAT OPTION. 
          >> SO MAYBE THIS YEAR YOU GUYS WOULD COME UP WITH A PLAN OF WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE TO FIX IT I 
          APPRECIATE THAT. >> ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION CAN ACTUALLY PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR EVERYBODY, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED A FAIR TRIAL MOTION. 
          >> I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COURTS THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THAT. 
          DO YOU SEE REPRESENTATION RATES THAT ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE OTHER JP COURTS. WE SEE LOWER DEFAULT JUDGEMENTS, WHAT PRACTICES DO YOU SEE IN YOUR COURTS THAT WE SHOULD BE FUNDING OR EXPANDING TO ALL 16 OF THESE COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY SO THAT EVERY CONSTITUENT CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT? 
          >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EDR ACROSS ALL COURTS AT HARRIS COUNTY. I HEARD MIXED MESSAGES LAST YEAR JUDGE TREVINO ESCORT BUT THEN HE STOPPED BEFORE THIS BODY AND SAID -- DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD RESOURCE UNLESS YOU HAVE A JUDGE BURNEY COURT WENT INTO THE PROCESS AND BUY INTO THE CONCEPT, IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT BUY IN. 
          YOU CAN HAVE INTERVENTIONS OUT OF COURT BUT WITHOUT THE BUYING FROM THE COURT IT'S HARD TO MOVE THE NEEDLE MUCH ON THAT. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND THINKING ABOUT THE SAME PROCESSES YOU HAVE IN PLACE IN COURT, WHEN WE LOOK AT DEBT COLLECTION LAWSUIT ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE JP COURTS, 90% OF PEOPLE COME IN WITH NO DEFENCE AND THREE QUARTERS OF THE CASE END UP IN A DEFAULT JUDGEMENT. 
          WHAT KINDS OF PRACTICES OR -- IMPLEMENTING THE COURT THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS? 
          >> THEY GOT A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS ACCESS FOUNDATION FOR A MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY FUND COUNSEL JUST LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FINED THE COUNSEL FOR EDUCATION. 
          IN OUR COURT AND JUDGE CARTER'S COURT, I THINK THEY MAY BE OPERATING IN SOME OTHER COURTS. I THINK JUDGE ADAMS IS IN THERE AS WELL. SO EVERY DOCKET, I WON'T TAKE A CASE UP IF THE DEFENDANT SHOWS UP UNTIL THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO 
          VISIT THE SAME WAY WE DO. >> MY HEARING REPRESENTATION IS 
          KEY TO THIS? >> YES, AND ALSO HOLDING THE 
          PLAINTIFFS TO THE -- >> THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT TWO PRECINCT THREE YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STUFF COMING I APPRECIATE IT IT'S A BIG DEAL THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE HERE. 
          THAT JP IS ANY OF THE TIME WHILE I'M ASKING QUESTIONS COMING UP AND -- I. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU ALL. 
          [05:25:02]
I KNOW MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE UNORTHODOX BUT. 
          >> OF COURSE. >> I WANT TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY. I AM WANDA ADAMS, JP 7-1, AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU. 
          LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVICTION, EVICTION DIVERSION OUT OF OUR COURT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND MY STAFF HAS BEEN DOING IT BY THEMSELVES WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT SO THERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN DO IT AND EDUCATE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE RESOURCES COMMUNITY CONCERN DIVERSION WE HAD SEVERAL ORGANISATIONS WITHIN OUR COURTROOM THAT HAS BEEN DOING THE WORK. WHEN TALKING ABOUT MANY OF OUR COURTS DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY, WE HAVE SEVERAL GPS DOING EVICTION DIVERSIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY FUNDING FOR. 
          SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, JUDGE TREVINO, DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU TODAY? I WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS PER COURT. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE TOTAL EVICTIONS FROM 
          JANUARY TO NOW. >> THAT'S THIS ONE. 
          >> YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE DATA WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FUNDING POSITIONS. WHEN YOU HAVE EVICTIONS UP UNTIL NOW OF 2026, OUT OF 1 COURT WE'RE FOCUSING ON -- IN JUDGE DUBLE COURT, ALL EVICTIONS FROM JANUARY UP UNTIL NOW, 415. 
          WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUDGE CARTER COURT -- I'M READING WITH EYEGLASSES THIS IS A STRUGGLE HERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUDGE CARTER SCORED BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOW, 4935 EVICTION CASES BETWEEN THE TWO COURTS. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PROCEEDINGS TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROCEEDINGS, FOR INSTANCE, IN MY COURT BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOW, WITH CIVIL PROCEEDINGS I HAVE SEEN 4656 CASES. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA YOU HAVE TO ASK LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND EXACTLY HOW THESE POSITIONS WERE FITCHBURG IN JP 7-1, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE BUT WE PRODUCED FOR DATA AND NUMBERS AND PARTNERS WE HAD. 
          CAN BRING YOU THE DATA COST ASSESSMENT, ... THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DIRECT DIRECTION IS SUSTAINABILITY FOR HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE JOBS THEY HAVE TO WORK BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE TO BE DIVERTED -- ANY TIME OF EVICTION TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MANY OF OUR COURTS HAVE DONE. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITH THAT STUFF AT ALL AND WE DIDN'T APPLY FOR IT ONE DAY I ASKED FOR THE GRANT. 
          I SAID, THIS TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WE DECIDED I CAN DO IT ALONE. 
          I'VE BEEN AT THIS 18 YEARS, ELECTED FOR 18 FROM CITY COUNCIL TO THE BOARD AND NOW JUDGE BURKE SAID THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO ME LOOK AT THE DATA LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT PRODUCING -- YOU CAN'T PICK ... WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SPREADING OF CASE CHARACTERS BY STATE LAW THAT WE CAN'T WHERE DIVIDED BY PRECINCTS. 
          WHY YOU CAN SHIP THE CASES A LITTLE BIT BUT IN JP COURTS YOU CANNOT PICK WE WORK BY PRECINCTS. 
          I CAN SHIFT BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER CASES AND WE CANNOT TELL AN INDIVIDUAL WHERE TO FILE. IF THEY WANT TO FILE THEY CAN FILE IN THE COURTS. INTRAVENOUS COURT, THEY CAN FILE CANNOT TELL THEM WHERE TO FILE THEY CAN FILE ANYWHERE BUT WE CAN'T SHIFT. I CAN'T -- HE CAN'T GIVE HIM BACK BECAUSE YOU'RE TELLING THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO FORCIBLY GO FILE -- YOU CAN'T DO THAT BUT THEY CANNOT STAND IN COURT IF THEY WANT TO. SOME THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE QUESTIONS. 
          THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND ASKING YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND LOOK AT THE SHIFT AND EXACTLY WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE ACTUALLY NEEDED BY THESE NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS DO NOT FABRICATE WHAT'S BEFORE THIS AFTERNOON IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE 
          OPPORTUNITY. >> LOOKS LIKE A 30S LEFT AS I REALISE OPERATIONAL ISSUES, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WE COULD CHANGE TODAY BESIDES WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WHAT ELSE 
          WOULD IT BE? >> I THINK LIKE THE JUDGE SAID IN COUNTY COURTS, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WOULD HELP OPERATIONAL TO HELP ALL 16 JP COURTS COLLECTIVELY AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES ABOUT THAT LIKE THE INTERPRETER POSITIONS WE GET SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP I THINK ALL COURTS AND PROVIDE BETTER AND FAIR ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR PARTIES INVOLVED. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP 
          TODAY. >> WHEN I TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR 
          [05:30:04]
WHAT WAS A WEST COAST BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MONEY INTO TWO COURTS FOR THIS POSITION FOR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS WHEN THEY SEE LESS THAN 3% OF THE EVICTION IN TOTAL COUNTY. 
          I THINK JUDGE DUBLE YOU REFERRED TO AT, THEY HELD A THOUSAND PEOPLE -- I THINK HE SAID AND I THINK THAT'S OVER THE SPAN OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, THEIR EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM CALCULATES WE HAVE OVER 77,000 EVICTIONS IN THE COUNTY BETWEEN 16 JP COURTS EVERY YEAR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT 
          DISTINCTION. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT THREE. 
          PRECINCT FOUR YOU NOW HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRECINCT FOUR. 
          AS ONE -- AS THE COURT STAFF INTERACTS WITH THE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACT RESIDENTS, PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING EFFICIENT ACCESSIBLE AND FAIR JUSTICE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE SERVICE OF ALL JP'S AND YOUR STAFF. JUST WANTED TO START OFF WITH THAT. ONE QUICK QUESTION, I DO NOTE THE COURTS CURRENTLY UTILISE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER AS YOU MENTIONED. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE ITS USE TO EXPEDITE CASE RESOLUTION? 
          >> I THINK ALL OF OUR COURTS ARE USING IT RIGHT NOW PRETTY EFFICIENT ADEQUATELY. THE PROBLEM IS IT'S OPTIONAL. 
          KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? COURTS DO FORCE IT -- ANYWAY, I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IT'S OPTIONAL. 
          IF THE PERSON DOESN'T SHOW UP, WHAT DO YOU DO? IF THEY'RE THE PLAINTIFF, I GUESS A JUDGE COULD SAY I'M GOING TO REQUIRE YOU TO SHOW UP UNTIL -- MY OPINION WOULD BE THAT MIGHT BE A BIT UNFAIR BUT I GUESS THEY COULD PICK IF THEY'RE THE DEFENDANT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? PROLONG THE CASE WHEN THE PLAINTIFF IS THE ONE TO FILE THE CASE? ONE THEN YOU'RE -- YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM SUFFER BECAUSE THEY DON'T SHOW UP TO THE RESOLUTION CENTER FOR POTENTIAL REMEDIATION. 
          >> FAIR ENOUGH NO, THERE ARE RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS RULES -- AS IN ECONOMICS -- I DIDN'T STUDY LAW SO I MIGHT NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING HOW EXACTLY BUT IT SEEMED TO REQUIRE A PROCESS TO BE ADDED TO LOCAL RULES TO REQUIRE RANDOMISED ASSIGNMENT OF CASES UPON FILING HERE CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW THE COURT IS READING THAT CHANGE? 
          >> YOU'RE REFERRING I'M ALMOST POSITIVE TO THE RULE TEN OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT. SO THEY BASICALLY RELEASED AMENDMENTS RECENTLY THAT HAVE JUST BEEN KIND OF DISCOVERED BY I THINK JUDGE DUBLE. BROUGHT THIS TO HER ATTENTION AS WELL. SO THE SAME RULE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 2022 AND THIS WHOLE KIND OF -- I. GUESS ISOLATION OR VIEWPOINT, THIS WHOLE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS IDEA WAS BECAUSE OF CASES IN SAN ANTONIO BEXAR COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY IN AUSTIN. HAD TO DEAL WITH THE RANDOM ASSIGNMENT OF CASES FOR THEIR DISTRICT COURTS WHEN IT CAME TO DO ASSIGN THEM TO COURT ONE COURT TWO, THREE OR FOUR OR DO I ASSIGN THEM TO JUDGE AND -- HOW DO I SIGN THEM? ASSIGNED TO JUDGES AS OPPOSED TO THE COURTS AND THEREFORE THE NEED MOVE ALONG FAIRLY AND YOU CAN TRACK END. 
          HENCE THE REASON WHY THIS ACTUAL AMENDMENT CAME AND THEY STARTED TO REDO THINGS. BUT THEN THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THE LOCAL RULES AND BY CHANGING THE LOCAL RULES THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHAT THE PRESIDING JUDGE COULD ROSINO PRESIDING JUDGE. THEY WANT ALL OF THESE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND WITH THE SUPREME COURT, WILL ALSO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR LOCAL RULES ARE FAIR. THEY HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING TO US FOR THE LAST 23, THREE AND A HALF YEARS NOW. 
          SO OUR STAFF ATTORNEY CAN LET HER GET UP HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT ONE HOUR FOR THIS TOPIC PICK SHE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS IN THE SUPREME COURT AND THE OFFICE OF THE OCA JUSTICE CORPS TRAINING CENTER THE LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT PAID BY THE LEGISLATURE MITCHELL ORGANISATION TO BASICALLY KEEP UP WITH ALL 254 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO STEP OVER YOUR BOARD AND GOING TO FAR. 
          SO THEY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY REACHED OUT TO, AGREE WITH HER ASSESSMENT IN HER OPINION AND THE RULE DOESN'T APPLY TO US PLAIN AND SIMPLE. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. 
          ARE THERE ANY COUNTIES THAT HAVE APPLIED THIS TO THEIR LOCAL RULES AS IT PERTAINS TO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE? 
          >> WE DID LOOK INTO THIS THERE'S CURRENTLY 20 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAVE WHAT WE ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS PRECINCTS WITH MULTIPLE PLACES. SOME HAVE TWO PLACES, THE COUNTY THAT EVEN HAVE THREE PLACES, 123. 
          NONE OF THEM HAVE CHANGED IF ANY OF THEM ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO THEY MIGHT BE DOING SO FOR OTHER REASONS BUT OTHER THAN THAT I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT AT LIBERTY, I DON'T KNOW 
          [05:35:05]
WHAT I HEARD, PARTICULARLY ONE TRIED TO REACH OUT AND SAID FROM THIS COUNTY TO LOOK INTO THIS BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR STAFF ATTORNEY REACHED OUT TO THE STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COUNTY AND THEN THEY KIND OF CONTRADICT US -- I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M OPEN TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. LIKE I SAID WHAT I WAS TRYING TO BRING UP EARLIER WAS THE FAIRCHILD VENUE MOTION CHANGE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND. 
          EVEN TODAY WITH THE WAY OUR RULES ARE TODAY, LET'S JUST SAY I THINK SOMEONE ASKED THE QUESTION WHO IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE ON OUR OWN TO REQUIRE SOME KIND OF SYSTEM WHERE IN PRECINCT ONE, HAVE THE CASES GO TO JUDGE TREVINO, ANOTHER GO TO ANGELA RODRIGUEZ PARTIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO THIS FAIR TRIAL MOTION VENUE CHANGE WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IT'S A DIRECT STOP ON THE CASE. IN ORDER TO GET THIS ACTUAL ASSIGNED, NEED TO PUT ON -- TO OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO ASSIGN IT. 
          THEY COULD BE RANDOM, DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN YOUR COURT, DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LIVE IN YOUR PRECINCT THEY CAN SAY I THINK YOU'RE UNFAIR INNOCENT AUTOMATIC STOP. 
          EVERY TIME I GO TO HER COURT, YOU CAN NO LONGER HERE IN THIS CASE, SEND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM, START FORCING PEOPLE TO BE DIRECTED TO FILING AND HEARING CASES IN OTHER COURTS. 
          SO WHETHER OR NOT THE ANSWER LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ALL ABOUT LISTENING AND PARTICIPATING AND BEING INVOLVED IN IT THE IMMEDIATE FIX IS REDISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES OR THE MINIMUM IF YOU WANT TO KEEP FUNDING SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT AT THE MINIMUM CAN HELP OUT JUDGE CARTER AND JUDGE DELGADO 
          WITH THEIR POSITIONS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR. 
          WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. 
          YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND 48 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> I WANTED TO -- THANK YOU OKAY THIS IS GOOD CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND ENLIGHTENING. 
          I DIDN'T WANT TO ASK THE NUMBERS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT THE CASES IN EACH COURT, THAT PROVIDED TO THE COURT OFFICES? 
          >> COURT OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY -- -- 
          >> WE CAN MAKE COPIES WE CAN PROBABLY PROVIDE IT IN LIKE AN EXCEL FORM BECAUSE THE WAY HABIT, I HAVE A LOT OF WRITINGS 
          ON THERE. >> WOULD BE GREAT. 
          >> WILL PROVIDE -- WHAT I DID I JUST WENT BACK TO THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO BASICALLY SEE THE VOLUME OF CASES AND THAT'S WHERE I USED SOME OF THOSE STATEMENTS THAT I MADE IN MY OPENING STATEMENT. CASES IN THESE TWO SPECIFIC PRECINCTS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN ABOUT 50/50 GOING BACK TO -- THE BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT THE SAME. JUDGE DELGADO AND JUDGE TREVINO, 50/50. SO THEIR BUDGETS REFLECT THE SAME. UNFORTUNATELY NO, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, YOU'RE SEEING THIS ACTUAL MASS EXCESS OF CASES FROM THESE TWO SPECIFIC COURTS INTO THESE OTHER COURTS I'M NOT HERE TO TURN TO SPECULATE ON THE WHY BUT I DO KNOW THAT THOSE OTHER TWO COURTS ARE BEING OVERWHELMED. 
          THOSE EMPLOYEES IN COURTS AND COURTS THAT MAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY ARE THE ONES -- KIND OF COURTS JUDGE CARTER JUDGE DELGADO WILL SAY WE'RE FINE IN HANDLING IT AND THIS AND THAT BUT I KNOW THE JOB AND MY EMPLOYEES DO SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE JOB THOSE EMPLOYEES DO. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S IT FOR THE JUDGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT 13 AND FOUR HAD NO TIME REMAINING PRECINCT TWO YOU HAD 37 SECONDS REMAINING. 
          >> I SEE IF I CAN TALK VERY FAST. 
          IS THERE A POSSIBILITY FOR YOU GUYS TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR WITH SOME KIND OF LEGISLATIVE PLAN, SOME KIND OF ASK, BECAUSE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY WITHOUT FIXING THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS JUST GOING TO EXACERBATE THIS NEXT YEAR THEN YOU'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR FOR THE SAME WAY. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY FOR THE 16 OF YOU TO GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PROPOSED SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE DOLLARS FROM THIS COURT. 
          >> ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE AN ACTUAL BUDGET AND STUFF FILING THAT ACTUALLY STUDY DASHMAC.COM -- IT WAS FROM I BELIEVE THE OCA. SO THE STUDY BASICALLY WENT BACK FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY VOLUME OF CASES HAVE BEEN FILED IN EACH COURTS. 
          SO THIS STUDY BASICALLY HELPED DETERMINE WHAT THOSE RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS SHOULD BE. IN THEORY WE DON'T NEED MORE MONEY WE JUST HAVE TO BASICALLY LOOK AT HOW TO EFFICIENTLY USE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING GIVEN. 
          >> NOT TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES I'M TALKING ABOUT CASES. 
          16 BIG BRAINS GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IF IT TAKES A LEGISLATIVE TASK. 
          >> WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE DOLLARS IN THAT SITUATION. 
          THAT SITUATION WE'RE NOT REQUIRE MORE DOLLARS. 
          >> LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET HEARINGS, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS COME BEFORE US WITH CASES LEVELLED OUT OR 
          [05:40:04]
          PLAN TO GO FORWARD. >> SOMETHING FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO THINK ABOUT LOGISTICALLY, LET'S JUST SAY THE STATE LEGISLATURE WERE TO DO THIS TOMORROW AND SAY EVERY PRECINCT THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE PLACE IS IN YOUR ACTUAL COUNTY, THEY HAVE TO BE AT EQUAL ASSIGNMENT. 
          LET'S JUST SAY THEY CREATE A JP CLERK'S OFFICE THAT WOULD BE A POSITION THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT HAVE TO BE APPLIED OR LEGISLATE BUT EVEN IF THEY DID THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COURTS THAT COULDN'T HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF VOLUME OF CASES. SO YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY BUY NEW BUILDINGS HAVE NEW BUILDINGS HAVE MORE STAFF GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE LARGER PARKING SPACES. ALLOW THIS ACTUAL COURT BUILDINGS NOW THAT HAVE SOME OF THAT AND EQUALISATION, THEIR COURT COULDN'T EVEN HANDLE THE EQUALISATION IF THE LEGISLATURE DID DO IT WE WOULD HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAT HAS TO BE SPENT OVER TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO LOGISTICALLY PREPARE AND SATISFY THEM ALL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          WITH THAT THAT CONCLUDES THE FINAL PRESENTATION FOR TODAY. 
          THANK YOU COURT OFFICERS AND TO ALL PARTICIPANTS WE WILL RESUME TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00 A.M. WITH A PRESENTATION FROM THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.