Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Department Head/Elected Official: Luis A. Sanchez, MD, Executive Director and Chief Medical Examiner
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): n/a
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): n/a
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): n/a
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): n/a
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of two temporary positions for summer interns as part of The Harris County Leadership Internship Program effective May 18, 2024.
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Background and Discussion:
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) would like to accept two paid interns as part of The Harris County Leadership Internship Program (formerly known as “Lee Interns”). These two interns will be working within scientific divisions at HCIFS for the summer months at a rate of $14.00 / hour. The internship program is designed to focus and develop analytical skills and enhance the professionalism of future forensic scientists and auxiliary specialists. Interns work under the guidance of our professional forensic scientists in our integrated medicolegal setting, with the hope that the interns will consider forensic science or forensic medicine as a career. HCIFS did not receive any qualified applicants last summer (2023) so the PCNs being held for those positions were cancelled by OMB as part of their effort to delete unfunded positions from Departments. Now that we have accepted two interns for this summer, we require two new temporary PCNs from mid-May through August.
Expected Impact:
The assistance of interns benefits HCIFS by providing equipment validation, research into a field determined by the intern, and other tasks that full-time HCIFS staff find difficulty finding quality time for. This assistance also provides the intern with an opportunity to work in a forensic scientific lab / morgue providing experience that can’t be gained elsewhere and could hopefully lead to a future decision to pursue science or medicine.
Alternative Options:
The alternatives available to HCIFS is to attempt to utilize the interns without paying them a salary, or to not accept paid interns in the future.
Alignment with Goal(s):
x_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston 77054
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
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1000 - General Fund |
$14,565 |
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$14,565 |
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Total Current Budget |
$14,565 |
$ |
$14,565 |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
0 |
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Additional Positions Request |
2 |
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Total Personnel |
2 |
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Anticipated Court Date: May 7, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): May 18, 2024
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Julie Prine, Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer, HCIFS
Attachments (if applicable): HRRM Form 3441