Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with the Texas Department of Public Safety for the Municipal Court to Utilize the Failure to Appear (FTA) Program
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2C: Through the use of dashboards and performance management tools, identify opportunities for internal efficiencies and continuous improvement to foster and reinforce a higher performing organizational culture)
MEETING DATE: May 2, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Municipal Court
CONTACT: April Morman, Municipal Court Administrator
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of Resolution
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This resolution authorizes the City Manager to Execute an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with the Texas Department of Public Safety for the Municipal Court to Utilize the Failure to Appear (FTA) Program.
• The Texas Transportation Code Chapter 706 Section 706.002 a political subdivision may contract with the department to provide information necessary for the department to deny renewal of the driver’s license of a person who fails to appear for a complaint or citation or fails to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering payment of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court in a matter involving any offense that a court has jurisdiction of under Chapter 4, Code of Criminal Procedure.
• After a citation is issued the defendant has 20 working days to resolve. If the citation is not resolved timely, the court will make multiple deliberate attempts to contact the defendant for resolution before the citation is reported to Omnibase.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Texas Transportation Code Section 706.008, DPS contracts with Omnibase to provide and establish an automated Failure to Appear (FTA) system that stores information regarding violators subject to the provisions of Texas Transportation Code Chapter 706. DPS uses the FTA system to properly deny renewal of a driver license to a person who is subject of an FTA system entry.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• The Court must keep separate, accurate, and complete records of the funds collected and disbursed and must deposit the funds in the appropriate municipal treasury. The Court may deposit such fees in an interest-bearing account and retain the interest earned on such accounts for the Court.
• Fees to be paid to Omnibase will be deposited into account # 001-0000-202-1016. Fees credited to the general fund will be deposited into account # 001-0000-351-1012.
• The Court will allocate $6.00 of each $10.00 reimbursement fee received for payment to Omnibase and $4.00 for credit to the general fund.
• The Court must pay Omnibase a fee of $6.00 per person for each violation that has been reported to the vendor and for which the court has subsequently collected the statutorily required $10.00 reimbursement fee. If the fee has been waived by Texas Transportation Code Section 706.006, no payment will be made to Omnibase or required of the court.
• Payment will be made to Omnibase no later than the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter in which the payment was received by the court.
• No funding is required for this Interlocal Cooperation Contract.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: N/A