Security & Technology Funds

Art. 102.017. COURTHOUSE SECURITY FUND; MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING SECURITY FUND; JUSTICE COURT BUILDING SECURITY FUND.

(a) The courthouse security fund is a fund in the county treasury, and the municipal court building security fund is a fund in the municipal treasury. The funds consist of money allocated to the funds under Sections 134.101, 134.102, and 134.103, Local Government Code.

(b) Money deposited in a courthouse security fund may be used only for security personnel, services, and items related to buildings that house the operations of district, county, or justice courts, and money deposited in a municipal court building security fund may be used only for security personnel, services, and items related to buildings that house the operations of municipal courts. For purposes of this subsection, operations of a district, county, or justice court include the activities of associate judges, masters, magistrates, referees, hearing officers, criminal law magistrate court judges, and masters in chancery appointed under:

(1) Section 311, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
(2) Section 04(g) or Chapter 201, Family Code;
(3) Section 0085, Health and Safety Code;
(4) Section 71, Tax Code;
(5) Chapter 54A, Government Code; or
(6) Rule 171, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

(c) For purposes of this article, the term “security personnel, services, and items” includes:
(1) the purchase or repair of X-ray machines and conveying systems;
(2) handheld metal detectors;
(3) walkthrough metal detectors;
(4) identification cards and systems;
(5) electronic locking and surveillance equipment;
(6) video teleconferencing systems;
(7) bailiffs, deputy sheriffs, deputy constables, or contract security personnel during times when they are providing appropriate security services;
(8) signage;
(9) confiscated weapon inventory and tracking systems;
(10) locks, chains, alarms, or similar security devices;
(11) the purchase or repair of bullet-proof glass;
(12) continuing education on security issues for court personnel and security personnel; and
(13) warrant officers and related equipment.

(d) This subsection applies only to a justice court located in a county in which one or more justice courts are located in a building that is not the county courthouse. The county treasurer shall deposit one-fourth of the money allocated to the courthouse security fund under Section 134.103, Local Government Code, in a fund to be known as the justice court building security fund. A fund designated by this subsection may be used only for the purpose of providing security personnel, services, and items for a justice court located in a building that is not the county courthouse.

(e) The courthouse security fund and the justice court building security fund shall be administered by or under the direction of the commissioners court. The municipal court building security fund shall be administered by or under the direction of the governing body of the municipality.

(f) The sheriff, constable, or other law enforcement agency or entity that provides security for a court shall provide to the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System a written report regarding any security incident involving court security that occurs in or around a building housing a court for which the sheriff, constable, agency, or entity provides security not later than the third business day after the date the incident occurred. A copy of the report must be provided to the presiding judge of the court in which the incident occurred. The report is confidential and exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

Art. 102.0172. MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND.
(a) The municipal court technology fund is a fund in the municipal treasury. The fund consists of money allocated to the fund under Section 134.103, Local Government Code.

(b) Money in a municipal court technology fund may be used only to finance the purchase of or to maintain technological enhancements for a municipal court or municipal court of record, including:
(1) computer systems;
(2) computer networks;
(3) computer hardware;
(4) computer software;
(5) imaging systems;
(6) electronic kiosks;
(7) electronic ticket writers; and
(8) docket management systems.

(c) The municipal court technology fund shall be administered by or under the direction of the governing body of the municipality.

Address
2210 Hancock Dr.
Austin, TX 78756

Phone: 512.320.8274
Toll Free Line: 1.800.252.3718
Fax: 512.435.6118