Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of 23 positions effective January 10, 2026, to support the newly approved Harris County Safety Record Policy.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Safety Record Policy is the result of two Harris County Commissioners Court Orders, dated August 27, 2019, and January 25, 2022, requiring a policy recommendation to implement the consideration of Harris County contractor safety records in awarding contracts.
The policy ensures that both prime contractors and subcontractors engaged by the County demonstrate a strong track record of prioritizing employee health, safety, and workplace protection. As of January 1, 2026, revisions have been implemented to strengthen safety standards and protect workers’ rights. Contractors on County-funded projects valued at $1 million or more, including subcontracts of $100,000 or more, are now required to meet enhanced safety requirements.
By integrating safety performance into contract awards, Harris County advances its HR mission of protecting employees, supporting fair labor practices, and ensuring that every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.
Expected Impact:
OCE is requesting funding through Fund 1000. The annual expected allocation for Fund 1000 is $3,200,000.
Alternative Options:
No other options are available for the positions if we are to comply with the Safety Record Policy
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: L: Foster more living-wage jobs that ensure worker safety, benefits, and stability across all educational levels.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): L2: Further expand and enforce contractor worker safety policy/standards.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: Aligns with Strategic Initiative L2: Further Expand and enforce contractor worker safety policy/standards.
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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11/13/25 |
4 |
For approval of a Harris County Construction Project Safety Policy, which includes (1) a revised Contractor Safety Record Policy and (2) a Worksite Safety Policy. |
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10/16/25 |
543 |
To direct the Office of County Administration, in partnership with Engineering Department, Toll Road, Flood Control District, Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity, Purchasing Agent, County Attorney’s Office, and Court Offices, to return to Commissioners Court on November 13, 2025, with a countywide Worksite Safety Policy establishing uniform standards for all County construction projects. At a minimum, this policy shall: incorporate feedback from labor and industry stakeholders; be modeled after evidence-based best practices from peer counties, labor and other organizations; be designed to reduce worksite injuries and improve worker protection; establish clear safety, monitoring, and inspection standards; and include training and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. |
|
1/9/25 |
299 |
To direct the Department of Equity and Economic Opportunity to form a working group with Purchasing, Engineering, County Attorney’s Office, Flood Control, the Toll Road Authority, and any other relevant departments and key stakeholders including labor and contractors to develop a set of policy revisions to the Contractor Safety Record Policy and return to Court with the proposed revisions by May 2025, and that the policy go through a biannual review. |
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Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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1000 - General Fund |
$2.4M |
$ |
$2.4M |
$3.2M (FY27) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$2.4M |
$ |
$2.4M |
$3.2M |
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Total Funding Sources |
$2.4M |
$ |
$2.4M |
$3.2M |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Additional Positions Request |
23 |
- |
23 |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/8/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Samuel Peña, Chief of Infrastructure Services
Attachments (if applicable): 3441 Forms and Job Descriptions