2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS TEXAS ...

2018 GUIDE TO TEXAS LAWS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

1210 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Honorable Larry Gallardo Hidalgo County Constable & Association President

Gene Terry Executive Director

Rex Hall Assistant Executive Director

PREPARED BY DAVID B. BROOKS P.O. BOX 12303

CAPITOL STATION AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711

THIS PUBLICATION IS A RESEARCH TOOL AND NOT THE COUNSEL OF AN ATTORNEY. THIS PUBLICATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY. It is provided without warranty of any kind and, as with any research tool, should be double checked against relevant statutes, case law, attorney

general opinions and advice of legal counsel e.g., your county attorney. Each public officer is responsible for determining duties of the office or position held. Any question regarding such duties should be directed to

competent legal counsel for a written opinion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................

1

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT .....

3

Overview ............................................................................................

4

1. Roads and Bridges.........................................................................

5

2. Personnel ....................................................................................... 10

3. Offices, Boards and Commissions ................................................ 15

4. Operating Facilities ....................................................................... 16

5. Bonding Authority......................................................................... 19

6. Contracting Authority ................................................................... 24

7. Elections ........................................................................................ 30

8. Regulatory Responsibilities .......................................................... 33

9. Fiscal Operation ............................................................................ 39

10. Public Health and Welfare ............................................................ 43

11. Administrative Duties ................................................................... 50

12. Judicial Responsibilities................................................................ 54

13. Public Works ................................................................................. 56

14. Juveniles ........................................................................................ 61

COUNTY JUDGE ....................................................................................... 63 Overview ....................................................................................... 64

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 65 2. Elections ........................................................................................ 65 3. Financial Responsibilities ............................................................. 66 4. Personal Bonds and Sureties ......................................................... 68 5. Administration of County Court ................................................... 68 6. Mental Health ................................................................................ 69 7. Special Districts............................................................................. 70 8. General Administrative Duties...................................................... 71

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COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR ...................................................

73

Overview ....................................................................................... 74

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 75

2. Calculation of Taxes ..................................................................... 75

3. General Law Districts ................................................................... 77

4. Motor Vehicle Registration........................................................... 77

5. Voter Registration ......................................................................... 78

6. Taxing and Financial Responsibilities.......................................... 78

7. Operation of Office ....................................................................... 79

8. Collection and Reporting of Taxes Collected............................... 80

9. Tax Delinquency, Deferred Payments, Seizure of Property......... 81

10. Postappeal Administrative Procedures ......................................... 82

11. Miscellaneous................................................................................ 82

COUNTY CLERK....................................................................................... 84 Overview ....................................................................................... 85

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 86 2. Elections ........................................................................................ 86 3. Recording Duties........................................................................... 88 4. Financial Records.......................................................................... 92 5. Administrative Duties ................................................................... 95 6. Miscellaneous................................................................................ 97

COUNTY TREASURER ..............................................................................

98

Overview ....................................................................................... 99

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 100

2. Responsibility for Monies Collected ............................................ 100

3. Disbursement of Funds ................................................................. 102

4. Recordkeeping and Reporting ...................................................... 103

DISTRICT CLERK ..................................................................................... 105 Overview ....................................................................................... 106

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 107 2. Recordkeeping............................................................................... 107 3. Financial Responsibility................................................................ 108 4. Administrative Duties ................................................................... 109

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SHERIFF ................................................................................................... 111 Overview ....................................................................................... 112

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 113 2. Law Enforcement and Judicial Policy .......................................... 114 3. Personnel Duties............................................................................ 116 4. State Agencies ............................................................................... 116 5. Fees, Compensation, and Financial Transactions......................... 117 6. Payment of Debts and Seizure of Property ................................... 119 7. General Welfare ............................................................................ 120 8. Service of Process and Notices ..................................................... 120

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ........................................................................... 123 Overview ....................................................................................... 124

1. Judicial Responsibilities ............................................................... 125 2. Miscellaneous Judicial Duties ...................................................... 127 3. Description of Office and Regulation of Justice Courts............... 129 4. Financial Duties and Transactions ................................................ 130

CONSTABLE ............................................................................................. 132 Overview ....................................................................................... 133

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 134 2. Service of Process ......................................................................... 134 3. Law Enforcement Duties............................................................... 136 4. Personnel Duties............................................................................ 137 5. State Agencies ............................................................................... 138 6. Recordkeeping, Compensation and Financial Transactions......... 139

COUNTY ATTORNEY ................................................................................ 141 Overview ....................................................................................... 142

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 143 2. Administrative and Advisory Duties ............................................ 144

DISTRICT ATTORNEY .............................................................................. 147 Overview ....................................................................................... 148

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 149 2. Administrative Duties ................................................................... 150

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COUNTY AUDITOR ................................................................................... 153 Overview ....................................................................................... 154

1. Description of Office..................................................................... 155 2. Financial Operation of County Offices......................................... 155 3. Recordkeeping............................................................................... 157 4. Supervision of Improvement Districts .......................................... 158 5. Miscellaneous Budget-related Duties ........................................... 158 COUNTY SURVEYOR ................................................................................ 159

Overview ....................................................................................... 160 1. Description of Office..................................................................... 161 2. Examination and Recording of Surveys and Records .................. 161

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