district clerk semi-annual report

8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report

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District Clerk Chris DanielDistrict Clerk Chris Daniel

SemiSemi--Annual ReportAnnual Report



During the first half of 2011, our office began anumber of initiatives to better serve the publicwhile saving taxpayers money. Thank you forreading this report, which highlights ourinitiatives and gives a glimpse at our goals forconsistent and continuous improvement for thefuture of the District Clerk’s Office.

Happy employees perform their best work,which results in better customer service for thepublic. I explored new ways to boost employeemorale to help make the office a positive workingenvironment so that we efficiently assist ourcustomers.

We faced a 10 percent budget cut, but we foundways to save our office money without

implementing pay cuts or mandatory furloughs.

We explored methods to reach out to the community, whether throughour Special Events Committee or through our FREEfax demonstrations.

My predecessors began many worthwhile projects, and I will continuemoving forward by implementing improvements with our Web site,historic document preservation and e-courts.

I hope you will gain a fresh perspective on what the District Clerk’sOffice has already achieved and will continue to accomplish in thefuture.

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A message

from Chris

District Clerk Chris Daniel

District Clerk Chris Daniel

swears into office at mid-night on Jan. 1, 2011.



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Semi-Annual Report

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Contents

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Internal Initiatives

To stay within our budget while making countygovernment effective for all

To increase employee morale To find better ways to serve our community

External Initiatives

Publicize electronic filing methods Advance electronic courts Increase overall office efficiency

Photos

A look back on Chris Daniel’s days in office during thefirst half of 2011

Future Initiatives

The future of the District Clerk’s Office

Events

A list of internal and externalDistrict Clerk’s Office events

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88

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Internal Initiatives

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Goal: To find better waysGoal: To find better ways

to serve our communityto serve our community

Action: Redesigned the SEC so that proceeds go to the charitiesselected by DCO employees

Action: Put the Historical Records Preservation Committee back ontrack

Action: Created a District Clerk’s Office Facebook page

Action: Developing a jury outreach program that will emphasize toschools the importance of jury service

Goal: To increase employee moraleGoal: To increase employee morale

Action: Brought back the “Employee of the Month” program

Action: Brought water coolers back to all departments of the DCO

Action: Hosted District Clerk’s Health Fair for employees

Action: Developed a program to acknowledge improved performance

in employees with disciplinary issues

Goal: To stay within our budget whileGoal: To stay within our budget while

making county government effective for allmaking county government effective for all

Action: Presented budget that met mandated 10% reduction and avoided furloughs

Action: Recycled old District Clerk letterhead and jury summonses to save money on paper

Action: Reactivated the Inventory Control Group to streamline and reduce the expense of consumables

Action: Developed and implemented a system for tracking fixed assets

Action: Eliminated Wednesday afternoon jury call, saving approximately $16,000 a year

Action: Saved other Harris County government agencies $180,000 this year with FREEfax

Action: Started family e-courts, which, when implemented, will save an estimated $1.2 million/year

Special Events Committee member

Kelly Olivier Davis flips pancakes at

the SEC pancake sale on March 11.

Cecily Hurd and Meshanda

Phillips stand in line to buy

baked potatoes at the SEC’s

St. Patrick’s Day event.

First half of 2011



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Goal: Publicize electronic filing methodsGoal: Publicize electronic filing methods

Action: Improved FREEfax capabilities to populate information from seizure and forfeitures andprotective orders to instruments

Action: All Civil Courts now allow the use of FREEfaxAction: Offered FREEfax presentations to attorneys and legal professionals

Action: Sharing FREEfax information with other counties and government entities

Action: Researching methods to automate and interface E-Filing to TAMES

Action: Working with Tarrant County and JCIT to create criminal e-filing system

Goal: Advance electronic courtsGoal: Advance electronic courts

Action: Began scanning documents in County Criminal Courts

Action: Exploring Electronic Docketing for County Criminal Courts

Action: Researching Electronic Service Documents Action: Working with District Criminal Courts to develop docket entry screens for judges

Action: Launched Family e-Court project -- the first Family Court (310th) came online June 1

Action: Assigned to the Criminal E-Filing Subcommittee from JCIT

Since the start of 2011, the number of FREEfax filings has more than tripled.

Average daily FREEfax filings

External Initiatives

First half of 2011



Capt. Debra Schmidt, Judge John Clinton, Major Fred Brown, District Clerk Chris Daniel, Jim Leitner of

the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and Criminal Bureau Director Margaret Wolfe attend a court

hearing during the emergency preparedness trial run on May 20.

Goal: Increase overall office efficiencyGoal: Increase overall office efficiency

Action: Reconstituted the jury wheel to include all currently eligible Harris County citizens

Action: Began an evaluation of expunction procedures to add statistical reporting withoutevidence of the expunged records

Action: Addressing the issue of contesting Pauper’s Oaths

Action: Testified twice before the legislature on matters germane to the DCO

Action: Began sharing disaster recovery duties with DA to save county dollars

Action: Began exploring the possibility of a bail bondsmen notification that will reduce jail population on a daily basis

Action: Researching ways to improve revenue collection of fines and fees

Action: Implemented new methods for reducing delinquent collection accounts

Action: The House has passed a bill that we drafted that allows the District Clerk’s Office todiscontinue mailing copies of divorce decrees for an estimated savings of $90,000 ayear. We will work to ensure the passage of the bill in the Senate

Action: Working with Justice of Peace Offices to implement electronic service of documentswith an estimated savings of $60,000 to Harris County

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Congratulating Mary Callier on being

named Employee of the Month are,

from left, Director Darlene Johnson,

Distribution Supervisor Lura Barley,

Mary, District Clerk Chris Daniel and

Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy. District

Clerk Chris Daniel brought back em-

ployee recognition awards. Mary was

the first Employee of the Month.

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District Clerk Chris Daniel and members of the SEC deliver a $500 check to the American Red Cross for

the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief fund. Susy Smith, Chief Development Officer for Ameri-

can Red Cross Greater Houston Area Chapter, accepted the check on behalf of the organization. The Dis-

trict Clerk's Office Special Events Committee raised the money through baked potato sales on St. Patrick's

Day.

Special Events Committee member

Mike Perez delivers chocolate roses to

Racheal Lucio on Valentine’s Day.



Members of the Special Events Committee deliver coats collected in the January coat drive to Houston CAN

Academy on Jan. 21.

Sheriff Adrian Garcia and District Clerk Chris Daniel

lock up a copy of the list of names on the new jury

wheel.

Tracy Hopper and

Jay Morgan

answer questionsat a FREEfax

presentation.

Jon Gegenheimer, Jefferson Parish Clerk

of Court, visited the District Clerk’s Office on Jan.

6 to see the Historic Documents Room and learn

about features on www.hcdistrictclerk.com.

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District Clerk Chris Daniel, Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy, DCO Bureau Directors and SEC officers gave an

appreciation breakfast for call center employees on May 11. Call Center employees gathered afterward to

thank directors and SEC members who assisted with the breakfast .

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Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel and members of the Special Events Committee present a check to

Ryan Marsh, President of Layla Grace Children's Cancer Research Foundation.

Irene Fabian assists a prospective juror at the new

Jury Plaza on July 5.



We look forward to promoting good government while continuously finding ways to savetaxpayers money. Some of our future initiatives include:

Continue historic document preservation and seek further funding opportunities

Establish jury outreach program-This will allow more diverse jury pools. A five percentincrease in participation would save Harris County$100,000 in related costs

Create a mobile web page that would allow attorneys and the public to more easily accessinformation from www.hcdistrictclerk.com from a variety of technical devices

Investigate technological upgrades to our case management system that will allow personnelthe ability to better service and support the system

Offer opportunities for continuing education

Develop a cross-training program that will help the office run more efficiently-Employees who are trained in more than one department can easily take over for absentemployees or step in when a position becomes available

Develop a program to acknowledge improved performance in employees withdisciplinary issues

Develop electronic service of process and citations for the Harris County Constables and

become paperless

Continue to move forward with electronic courts by completing Family and moving on toJuvenile and Criminal

Future Initiatives

District Clerk Chris Daniel welcomes prospec-

tive jurors on Jan. 5.

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The historic document pres-

ervation process encapsu-

lates documents in books

for protection from air and

moisture.



Jan. 1 Chris meets with Jon A. Gegenheimer, Clerk of Court, Jefferson Parish,Louisiana, who toured the DCO

Jan. 10–13 Chris and Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy attend 39th Annual District and

County Clerks Continuing Education Conference in College Station

Jan. 14 Chris meets with attorney Bill Kroger of Baker Botts to provide information for TexasSupreme Court Task Force report and documentthe DCO historical court archives

Jan. 14 Chris attends MLK 15th Annual OratoryCompetition, gives brief address

Jan. 18 Chris attends Annual “C” Club

Elected Officials Reception

Jan. 20 Chris meets with County Treasurer to attemptresolution of credit card issues

Jan. 22 Chris speaks at the LULACDistrict Council 4967 Chorizo andMenudo Breakfast

Jan. 25 Chris meets with Christopher Prine and M.Karinne McCullough to establish procedures

regarding retention and destruction of completedappeals files

Jan. 29 Chris attends the 2011 India Fair atNew Stafford Center

Feb. 1 Chris attends Asian AmericanHealth Coalition

Feb. 3 Chris speaks at North Shore Rotary

Feb. 4 Chris attends Houston Community Reception

Feb. 5 Chris speaks at Rotary Club of Highlands 36thAnnual Chili Cook-off

Feb. 5 Chris attends 15th Annual Asian Lunar New Year Festival and the Lunar NewYear Festival Annual Celebration at the Chinese Community Center

Feb. 8 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at Fulbright and Jaworski

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District Clerk Chris Daniel speaks to students at

Raul Yzaguirre School for Success at a memorial

vice as part of the Shattered Dreams Assembly. Stered Dreams is a program designed to help educ

students on the impact of drinking and driving.

District Clerk Chris Daniel and representatives f

the office participated in the Grand Entry for the

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 12

District Clerk Chris Daniel redeputizes District COffice employees on Jan. 3.

Community Events

First half of 2011



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Feb. 9 Chris attends Galleria Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

Feb. 9 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at King andSpaulding

Feb. 10 Chris attends Asian Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

Feb. 10 Chris attends Jury Facilities Workshop (Internal)

Feb. 11 Chris attends HRBC Reception for Elected Officials

Feb. 11 Chris speaks at Harris County Black HistoryCelebration

Feb. 12 Chris attends Lunar New Year Celebration

Feb. 18 Chris speaks at FREEfax training for legalcommunity

March 2 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at JacksonWalker

March 4 Chris attends the Greater Houston PartnershipEvent: State of the County Address

March 7 Chris participates in the Shattered DreamsCrash Day filming at the Tejano Center andRaul Yzaguirre School for Success

March 8 Chris speaks at the Shattered Dreams Project Memorial Service

March 8 Chris attends the GHP- Business of the Rodeo at Reliant Park

March 10 Chris attends Asian Chamber Luncheon

March 10 Chris attends Clifton Middle School College and Career Night

March 11 Chris gives FREEfax presentation for Houston Association of Law Librarians

March 13 Chris participates in the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade benefiting

Cypress-Creek EMS

March 14 Chris gives FREEfax presentation to MABAHChris gives Website presentation to Humble Area Genealogical Society

March 15 Chris speaks at Downtown Lions Club

March 22 Chris gives FREEfax and brief Website presentation to Looper, Reed and McGraw

District Clerk Chris Daniel speaks

to attorneys and law firm represen-

tatives about the benefits of FREE-

fax at a presentation on March 3.

District Clerk Chris Daniel educates members

of LULAC about the functions of the District

Clerk’s Office on Jan. 22 at Doneraki’s.



March 22 Chris meets with JP Morgan Chase to discuss records storage project

March 22 Chris meets with Jake Stine and representatives from tex.gov

March 24 Chris gives FREEfax and website presentation to Beck, Redden and Sechrest

March 25 Chris attends the League of Women Voters 2011 Repast Honoring Beverly Kaufman andSue Schechter

March 25 Chris attends reception at India House

March 26 Chris speaks at the 12th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Parade Celebration in Hidalgo Park

March 28 Chris tours Transtar as part of emergency management preparedness

March 28 Chris meets with assistant attorneys general regarding child support

March 28 District Clerk’s Office sends press release for jury wheel reconstitution

March 29 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at Baker McKenzie

March 29 Chris speaks to government class at North Harris College

March 31 District Clerk’s Office hosts Health Fair

April 4 Chris makes electronic service proposal to Constable Abercia

April 5 Chris attends CenterPoint Energy Supplier Diversity Recognition

Breakfast

April 5 Attends Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Luncheon and

Business Expo

April 7 Chris attends CDCAT Region VII Spring Conference in Beaumont

April 8 Chris speaks to Lone Star College Political Science Club

April 8 Chris presents certificates of appreciation to students at Heritage Elementary for loaning

their rodeo art to the SEC’s Go Texan Day event

April 9 Chris participates in the OCA-GH Walk for C.H.A.N.G.E.

April 13 Chris presents check from Special Events Committee function to the American Red Cross

April 15 Chris speaks to the Willowbrook Rotary Club

April 18 Chris speaks to the LaPorte Lions Club

April 19 Chris attends the TIGAAR luncheon meeting

April 20 Chris speaks to the Rotary Club of Galena Park/Jacinto City

District Clerk Chris

Daniel presents an his-

toric court case at the

Harris County BlackHistory Month Com-

memoration.

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April 20 Chris attends Asian American Bar Association solo and small firm networking

April 21 Chris speaks to the Bellaire Southwest Houston Rotary Club

April 21 Chris speaks to Phi Alpha Delta

April 26 Chris and the District Clerk’s Office host a Free Fax Seminar

April 26 Chris speaks to the Houston Skyline RotaryClub

April 27-29 Chris attends CDCAT conference inRound Rock

May 2 Chris distributes pocket constitutions at juryservice for Law Day

May 3 Chris attends Alief Quarterly networkingbreakfast

May 3 Chris meets with LaPorte Rotary Club

May 4 Chris speaks to seniorparalegal studentsat Westwood College

May 5 Chris speaks to theDowntown Optimist Club

May 7 Chris attends LULAC’s

Cinco de Mayo Parade

May 10 Chris speaks to KleinLions Club

May 11 Chris gives appreciationbreakfast for the DCOCall Center

May 11 Chris speaks to HeightsRotary Club of Houston

May 12 Chris speaks to P.R.O.W.group

May 12 41st Annual Banquet of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

May 13 Chris speaks to the Tomball Lions Club

District Clerk Chris Daniel, Judge Halbach and

Houston Bar Association President Mark Kellydistribute miniature copies of the constitution to

jurors on May 2 in honor of Law Day.

District Clerk Chris Daniel served as guest speaker at the Downto

Optimist Club of Houston Respect for Law Day luncheon on May

News 2 Houston Anchor Bill Balleza served as emcee. Chris presen

awards to six area law enforcement officers nominated by their re

spective departments. Award recipients included Adam Sweaney,

Trooper II, Texas DPS; Sergeant John W. Nickell, Houston Police

Department; Deputy United States Marshal Max Pinon; Deputy D

ald Hess, Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent Marguerit

Hackney, FBI; and Special Agent Shaun Cannon, United States Se

Service.



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May 17 Chris speaks to Rotary Club of Sharpstown

May 18 Chris meets with Conference of Urban Counties to discuss Harris CountyOnline Fax Filing System

May 19 Chris speaks to the Rotary Club of Katy

May 24 Chris speaks to the Highlands Rotary Club

May 25 Chris speaks to Baytown Rotary Club

May 26 Chris gives a Free Faxpresentation to Ft. Bend BarAssociation

May 26 Chris speaks to KingwoodRotary Club

May 31 Chris greets, gives tourto summer interns

June 1 Chris speaks to the HumbleInternational Rotary Club

June 2 Chris speaks to PasadenaKiwanis Club

June 3 Chris speaks to KingwoodKiwanis Club

June 4 Chris speaks at the BAC

Donor Conference

June 6 Chris attends the HCRPTown Hall meeting

June 9 Chris speaks to the North Harris Bar Association

June 10 Chris speaks to the Pasadena Rotary Club

June 12-16 Chris attends the 116th Annual CDCAT State Conference in Lewisville, Texas

June 21 Chris speaks to Greater Houston Pachyderm

June 21 Chris participates in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Harris County Jury Plaza

June 23 Chris gives FREEfax filing presentation at Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP

June 23 Chris speaks to the Pasadena Kiwanis Club

Wayne Landin of the Pasadena Rotary Club greets

District Clerk Chris Daniel. Chris spoke to the club

on June 10.



Cutting the ribbon at the Harris County Jury Plaza Open House on June 21 are, from left, Rev. Rudy Ras-

mus, St. John’s United Methodist Church; Benny Agosto Jr., Houston Bar Association; Hon. Al Bennett,

61st District Court; Hon. Joseph J. “Tad” Halbach Jr., Local Administrative Judge; Hon. El Franco Lee,

Commissioner, Pct. 1; Hon. Mark Kent Ellis, 351st District Court, Hon. Chris Daniel, Harris County District

Clerk and Jeff Bricker, Senior Vice President, Page Southerland Page. “We hope this new facility will make

your right to serve easier,” Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel said.

June 23 Chris attends the STAR Harris County Drug Court Foundation Graduation

June 24 Chris and members of the Special Events Committee present a check of proceeds froman SEC fundraiser to Ryan Marsh of the Layla Grace Children’s Cancer ResearchFoundation

June 28 Texas.gov visits the District Clerk’s Office for a review of new processes

June 29 Chris meets with summer interns from Houston Bar Association and CIS (Communities

in Schools)

July 5 The Harris County Jury Plaza opens to the public

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The Harris County Jury Plaza opened to the public on July 5.