Primary Department: District Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods
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Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable):
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MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
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Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
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Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by the District Courts for approval to pay overtime to exempt and nonexempt District Courts staff required to work weekends and holidays to comply with Senate Bill 9 (SB9) of the 89th Texas Legislature, including retroactive payment for work performed by District Courts staff on weekends during the month of September 2025.
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Background and Discussion:
Senate Bill 9 (SB9) is an unfunded mandate that requires bail to be set within 48 hours of a defendant's arrest for offenses designated as SB9 cases. It went into effective on 9/1/25 and requires additional work to be performed by Criminal District Judges or their designated Visiting Judges on weekends and holidays. These new responsibilities require the administrative support of a Court Coordinator, technology technician, and interpreter. To incentive staff to volunteer for these nontraditional shifts, this request is to pay these support staff 1.5 times their regular hourly rates.
Expected Impact:
SB9 will require judicial officers and staff to work weekends and holidays to comply with the 48 hours hearing requirement.
Alternative Options:
There are no alternative options to comply with the requirements of SB9.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency ...
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