Annual Report of the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions For The Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2016 Contents TEXAS JUDICIAL COUNCIL .......................................................................................................... 1 Criminal Justice Committee Studies Pretrial Bail Practices ............................................................................ 2 Court Security Committee Seeks to Improve Security for Court Users and Personnel ................................. 2 Mental Health Committee Reviews Intersection of Mental Health and the Justice System ......................... 3 Elders Committee Seeks to Protect and Improve Quality of Life for the Elderly and Incapacitated ............ 4 Judicial Centers of Excellence ......................................................................................................................... 5 Review of Significant Court Trends ................................................................................................................. 6 Collections Improvement Rules Revisions ..................................................................................................... 6 Specialty Court Best Practices ........................................................................................................................ 7 Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardian Stakeholders ..................................................................... 7 Legislative Priorities ....................................................................................................................................... 8 OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION ....................................................................................... 9 Executive Operations ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Research and Court Services Division ................................................................................................................ 10 Judicial Information ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Court Services .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Collections Improvement Program .............................................................................................................. 11 Court Consulting .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Language Access Program ............................................................................................................................ 11 Domestic Violence Training Program ........................................................................................................... 12 Research ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Problem-Solving Courts Consultant ............................................................................................................. 13 Information Services Division ............................................................................................................................. 14 Electronic Filing ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Re:SearchTX .................................................................................................................................................. 14 New Attorney Portal for Appellate Courts Released .................................................................................... 15 Technology Upgrades ................................................................................................................................... 15 Judicial Committee on Information Technology .......................................................................................... 15 Technology Standards ................................................................................................................................... 16 Legal Division ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Legislative Work ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Rules ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Rule 12 and Judicial Branch Certification Commission Appeals .................................................................. 17 Children’s Courts Program ............................................................................................................................ 18 Finance and Operations Division ........................................................................................................................ 19 Collection Improvement Audit Program ...................................................................................................... 19 Legislative Appropriations Request for 2018-2019 ..................................................................................... 20 Judicial Branch Certification Commission .......................................................................................................... 22 Certification Division End of Year Highlights .............................................................................................. 24 Guardianship Compliance Personnel ........................................................................................................... 26 Guardianship Compliance Participating Counties ........................................................................................ 26 Conservatorship Accountability Project ....................................................................................................... 27 Texas Indigent Defense Commission .................................................................................................................. 28 Funding for Texas Counties ........................................................................................................................... 28 Grant Types ................................................................................................................................................... 28 Recommendations to the 85th Legislature .................................................................................................. 29 Contents Reporting ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 Monitoring Program ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Fiscal Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Resources, Publications, and Education ....................................................................................................... 31 Resources ..................................................................................................................................................... 31 Model Forms ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Effective Indigence Screening ...................................................................................................................... 31 Training ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Innocence Program ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Judicial Compensation Commission ................................................................................................................... 33 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 33 The State Law Library ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney ............................................................................................................ 37 State Commission on Judicial Conduct .............................................................................................................. 38 Organization .................................................................................................................................................. 38 Disciplinary Actions ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Office of Capital and Forensic Writs ..................................................................................................................