Primary Department: District Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA)
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to renew the Interlocal Agreement between Harris County and the Texas Office of Court Administration to employ an Associate Judge and Court Coordinator to assist in handling child abuse and neglect cases filed in Harris County.
end
Background and Discussion:
To promote the efficient and timely processing of child abuse and neglect cases in Harris County, an interlocal agreement (ILA) between Harris County and the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA) was signed that covers the period of 9/1/23 through 8/31/25. The ILA stipulates Harris County agrees to employ an Associate Judge and Court Coordinator to assist in handling child abuse and neglect cases filed in Harris County. The Associate Judge and Court Coordinator are appointed by and serve at the will of the Honorable Susan Brown, Presiding Judge of the 11th Administrative Region, or her successor.
The ILA allows the OCA to renew the ILA for up to two (2) periods of two (2) years each under the same terms, by written or emailed notice to Harris County. On 7/24/25, the OCA exercised the option to extend the ILA for an additional two (2) year period. The OCA will reimburse Harris County $442,650 for the 24 months (2-year agreement) renewal period. Per the ILA, Harris County will fund the remaining cost for both positions.
We likewise request that the related positions, Associate Judge position #10020095 and Court Coordinator position #10020214, be extended through August 31, 2027.
Expected Impact:
The program will promote the efficiency and timely processing of child abuse and neglect cases in Harris County.
Alternative Options:
Per the agreement, the Texas OCA would provide approximately 55% of the personnel costs for the Children’s Protection Court Program. Alternatives would be for Harris County to assume that cost or discontinue the program, resulting in delays and failure to meet statutory timelines for case events.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
8/6/2024 |
182 |
Approved ILA 2023-2025 |
|
1/4/2022 |
142 |
Approved ILA 2021-2023 |
|
8/27/2019 |
19.a |
Approved ILA 2019-2021 |
|
10/24/2017 |
19 |
Approved ILA 2017-2018 |
|
7/14/2015 |
17.a |
Approved ILA 2015-2016 |
|
1/29/2014 |
18.a |
Approved ILA 2014-2015 |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Judges |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Other (State Office of Court Administration) |
$221,325 |
$0 |
$221,325 |
$221,325 |
|
1000 - General Fund |
$176,636 |
$ |
$176,636 |
$176,636 |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$397,961 |
$0 |
$397,961 |
$397,961 |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$64,037 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$397,961 |
$0 |
$397,961 |
$397,961 |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 10/16/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/16/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Richard Woods, Court Administrator, District Courts
Attachments (if applicable):
• Order of Commissioners Court
• Amendment #1 of the Interlocal Agreement (ILA)