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 iii 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 iv 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....................................................................