Finance committee approves in‑house court referral program, two court referral officers

The finance committee approved creating an in‑house court referral program and hiring two court referral officers to manage drug- and alcohol-related case evaluations, a staff presenter said. A staff member told the committee the program is required by the Mandatory Treatment Act of 1990 for all drug and alcohol‑related offenses and that individuals must be referred for evaluation. Previously, the county contracted with the Texas Luce alternative sentencing office to handle those referrals; bringing the program in house would allow local staff to control scheduling and reduce delays in evaluations. The presenter said the state will pay about $136,000 for the program for the October-through-September fiscal year and that the program charges per drug screen; those collected fees — described in the discussion as roughly $63,000 in projection — would supplement the state contract so the program is expected to be cost neutral. Staff said contract amounts are estimated using the prior fiscal year’s July-through-June caseload. Committee members asked whether the change would simply replace the existing contract or represent a net new cost. The presenter responded that the funding arrangement should be cost neutral and that moving the work in house would allow evaluations to start sooner, sometimes beginning the process at the court appearance rather than scheduling evaluations later. After questions, a committee member called for the question and the item was approved by voice vote: “All in favor, say aye.” The transcript records no amendments or contingencies; the program will be regulated by the state’s court referral office and require officers certified by that office.