Travis County Commissioners Court
January 30, 2007
Item 29
Number 9 is to take appropriate action on proposed bills before the Texas legislature. Item 29. Anything on this item today? Yes, ma'am.
>> good morning, judge.
>> good morning.
>> Commissioners.
>> your name again ?
>> pollyette ga.
>> okay.
>> I apologize. Both bob and chris are at other commitments today. Hopefully I can fill both their shoes. The first item have I to present is the writ of execution bill. This is a bill that you all have seen several times and it's gone back to have some corrections made. It clarifies existing language in the civil procedures code, civil practice and remedies. Basically that protects the county from liability issues stemming from the currently vague language. I have shari this, me thomas here from the county attorney's office if you have specific questions on the bill. You should have a final copy in front of you.
>> this is a copy that the other urban counties support support?
>> yes. We have at least five or six counties behind the bill. And actually believe harris county is going to take the lead on the bill and we're going to support them as much as we canbut everybody understand the same thing.
>> yes.
>> no variation between counties.
>> we have consulted with the different counties and everyone has come to an agreement and seems pretty happy with the bill.
>> do you need anything from the indicating our support ?
>> yes, I believe I need you to approve the bill.
>> have not formally voted to approve. I move that we support this specific version and come up with a short but appropriate resolution showing our support.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor. That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you. Next item is the misdemeanor citation bill. This was brought to us by the sher you have's office. I have here major david bala balagia who is also able to
>> [a-bs] any questions you may have about the bill. We have presented it to you and taken it back for revisions because there were some questions raised by several dents. We--dents. We have consulted with those departments and fixed the problems with the bill. Pretile services has look it over and added their suggested changes. And we have taken down the potential impact of the bill and made it a little bit more of a pilot bill so that the implications are going to be a little smaller for now. And if it works when put into use, we can always expand the provisions of the bill.
>> are you prepared at this point or should major balagi balagia go through the penal code provisions and told us what they relate to.
>> .
>> I can get you startnd and if you have any questions call up major balagia. On page 2, no, that's the old bill. Let me pull this up. Are you wanting to know specifically what these offenses are? That can be issued a citation ?
>> what I'm driving at is how narrow is the scope of this bill.
>> okay.
>> or broad.
>> it's definitely been narrowed. What we tried to do is come up with a list of offenses that were not too much of a concern to anyone. Best example is driving with suspended license. It's commonly perceived to be an offense that does not, no one needs to be arrested for, that a cite tages will suffice and will--citation will suffice and save the county time and moaning in doing so.
>> that's the transportation position as well.
>> the section 521.457, transportation code. We also have, let's see.
>> I'm trying do from memory memory. Didn't bring my notes. I apologize am I came from teaching a class out at our academy for this morning. Possession of marijuana, class b theft, class b related to graph graffiti. Again, I'm going from memory memory. The intent, of course, originally on the bill was addressed for counties that are patrolling very remote areas of the county. So instead of having to transport the person all the way into the booking area, you know, they would be able to issue a citation. Of course, it's an option, not mandatory. They could still arrest. So the advice was that we should start out small and just have a few, you know, type. I even through in an offense of introducing contraband to a to--correctional facility because cigarettes are under that. Some poor old grandma is trying to sneak in cigarettes to the jail, I don't want her to go to jail jail. I could issue an exam citation, as a pel. I could--example. I could issue a summary but I don't have it memorized.
>> I take it the other urban counties will support the bill. The public policy behind this, for some of the minor offenses, it really is better for the law enforcement official to remain in his patrol area after issuing the citation rather than bringing this offender downtown, which probably takes a couple hours dñtch.
>> exactly.
>> the transportation, book booking process. So it really is an issue of how do we best use meager resources.
>> that's exactly right.
>> this is the kind of bill, though, where if one urban county seems to me quietly fights it, it dies in some dark corner of the capitol.
>> we are completely open to suggestions from the other counties should they want to add or remove an offense listed in the bill. Those are up for negotiation absolutely. The fact that we feel that they are harmless offense, relatively harm less offense offenses for which a citation can be issued, we had happy to take their pony and take out or add in offenses that they would like us to.
>> our folk at Travis County are supporting it.
>> that's correct.
>> that's why I move approval and have the Commissioners court support it formally. Decision? . All in favor. That passes by unanimous vote. Were you about to counsel us to vote against it ?
>> nos.
>> okay--no, sir.
>> okayi don't have any other bills to present. Today other than to give you a update on where we are with some other legislation if you are interested in. Otherwise I can give that to you another time.
>> can it wait until next Tuesday.
>> it can wait.
>> we will be more attentive then, I can assure youthank you.
>> let me say this before you leave. Since there is a real big push for the regional growth corridor, there is rumor about an economic develop development district that may be created through legislative ends or means.
>> uh-huh.
>> I would like if you possibly can for you to investigate that, if there is something going on at that level, because there is a lot of questions I need to pose as to how it will impact governmental entities and especially Travis County with that type of legislation. So if you can , search around and see what you can find out and get back to us, with me.
>> yes, I have actually heard a little bit on that subject matter around the capitol, and I'm inquiring as to if there are any bills coming up, and I will let you foe.
>> right. So if you can find out what's going on, please keep us informed because I think there's a series of questions that need to be posed to whoever is behind this that I think we need to entertain at some stage of this process. Get as much information as you can for us.
>> I will.
>> thank you.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6:55 AM