Fifth Annual County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas Fall Conference

September 12 - 14, 2022

Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, 77843

Registration will open Wednesday, June 8, at 8 a.m.

For more information, contact Luz Hinojosa or Sam Burke or call (800) 456-5974.

Join the County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas at the Fifth Annual CDCAT Conference on Sept. 12-14 at the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center.

This year’s conference theme is “Unlocking Your Potential – Within the Association, Your County and Yourself.” Conference sessions and speakers will offer comprehensive information on popular topics, upcoming changes that affect you directly and areas of high interest in the clerk profession.

County clerks, district clerks and combination clerks can earn continuing education credits to help fulfill their annual requirements.

An important part of this meeting is the opportunity to network with your fellow clerks and exchange ideas that are helpful to you and your county.  

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from great speakers and enjoy this new venue in the heart of Aggieland! Take time to explore College Station.

Registration Fees
Full conference registration includes all education sessions, meals and breaks.

REGISTRATION FEES
DESCRIPTION Early Registration
by Aug. 19
Registration
After Aug. 19
Clerk/Deputy Registration $200 $225
Retired Clerk Package $100  
Corporate Attendee $500  
On-Site Registration $225  
One-Day Registration   $90  

HOST HOTEL
The host hotel is the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. You must register for the conference to obtain hotel reservation information.

Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, TX 77843
Room rate: $96 per night plus tax (prevailing per diem rate)

Registration and all meetings will take place at this hotel. If you have a reservation at the host hotel and need to cancel it, please contact Sam Burke at (512) 456-5974.

Parking at Host Hotel
Garage self-parking: $8 per vehicle, per day (in Cain Garage – covered garage)

Valet parking: $24 per car, per evening for overnight guests and $13 per car, per eight-hour period for day meeting guests

Continuing Education
Application will be made for continuing education credit for county, district and combination clerks. Please check back here for approval updates.

Vendor Information
For information on vendor registration and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sarah Lazarowitz, Zachary Publications events director, at (325) 673-4822 ext. 121.

Payment Information
Please make checks payable to the Texas Association of Counties.

Mail checks to:
CDCAT Annual Fall Conference
c/o Texas Association of Counties
P.O. Box 2711
San Antonio, TX 78299

The host hotel is the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. You must register for the conference to obtain hotel reservation information.

Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center (FULL)
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, 77843
Room rate: $96 per night plus tax (prevailing per diem rate)

Check-in time: 4 p.m.
Checkout time: 11 a.m.

Host Hotel Room Cancellations
If you need to cancel a room reservation, please do not cancel directly with the hotel. Contact Sam Burke at (800) 456‑5974 to cancel your host hotel room reservation. This will help move fellow attendees off the waitlist. We kindly request that you not post your reservation on the CDCAT listserv because this hinders waitlist management.

Parking at Host Hotel
Garage self-parking: $8 per vehicle, per day (in Cain Garage – covered garage)
Valet parking: $24 per car, per evening for overnight guests and $13 per car, per eight-hour period for day meeting guests

Overflow Hotels

Embassy Suites by Hilton College Station
(2.2 miles from host hotel)
*No Checks or Cash accepted, Credit Card Only

201 University Dr. East
College Station, TX

Reservations: (979) 260-6000
Rate: $139 per night (includes hot breakfast)

The George
844-599-3871 -  When calling in use the code CDCAT for room block rates.
180 Century Court
College Station, TX 77840

Double rate= $149.00 + Tax
King Rate= $129.00 + Tax

Cavalry Court
844-313-7337 -  When calling in use the code CDCAT for room block rates.
200 Century Court
College Station, TX 77840

Double rate= $149.00 + Tax
King Rate= $129.00 + Tax

Hilton College Station & Conference Center - “Room block not acquired, rates and availability may change”
801 University Dr E
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 693-7500

Home2 Suites by Hilton College Station - “Room block not acquired, rates and availability may change”
300 Texas Ave
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 703-8288

If you need special accommodations, please contact Luz Hinojosa at (800) 456-5974.

Monday, September 12
General Session
Moderator: Hon. Patti L. Henry, Chambers County District Clerk; President, County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas (CDCAT)
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration and Information Desk open
Noon-5 p.m. Exhibit Hall Opens
Noon-5 p.m. CDCAT Store Opens
Welcome General Session
Noon-12:30 p.m. Welcome and Announcements
Hon. Patti L. Henry, Chambers County District Clerk
12:30-12:45 p.m.

Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Hon. Patti L. Henry, Chambers County District Clerk

Get ready to go on an adventure where attendees will collaborate with colleagues from across the state and different regions to work on a joined mission. May the best team win!

12:45-1:30 p.m.

Volunteerism
Hon. B. Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge

Volunteerism lets people and communities participate in their own growth. Through volunteering, citizens build their resilience, enhance their knowledge base and gain a sense of responsibility for their own community. In this session, Judge Whitley will share how volunteering has influenced his life.

1:30-2 p.m. Break with Vendors
2-3 p.m.

What CDCAT Does for You!
Hon. Patti L. Henry, Chambers County District Clerk
Hon. Julie Smith, Potter County Clerk
Hon. Velva L. Price, Travis County District Clerk
Hon. Clarissa Webster, Ector County District Clerk

Hear from panelists to learn all about what CDCAT does for its members, including key information about the CDCAT website, CE Tracker, and Mobilize.

3-4 p.m.

What You Can Do for CDCAT
Panel

CDCAT committee chairs will share the opportunities available for you to get involved and be an engaged member of our association.

4-4:30 p.m. Break with Vendors
4:30-5 p.m.

What to Expect in the 88th Legislative Session
Mr. Cary Roberts, Principal, Vigil LLC
Hon. Sharena Gilliland, Parker County District Clerk

Much is happening behind the scenes to prepare for the upcoming legislative session next year. This presentation will supply you with a report on the CDCAT legislative survey and anticipated legislative priorities.

6:30-9 p.m.

Tailgate BINGO Night and Scholarship Fundraiser
Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center, Century Ballroom
Sponsored by Kofile

What do you do when you are in a college town for a conference during football season? You tailgate like there’s no tomorrow! Show us your team spirit by wearing your favorite sports team shirt and get ready for a fun-filled bingo night where you can win cool prizes. Your attendance also helps raise funds for the CDCAT scholarship program.

Tuesday, September 13
General Session
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration and Information Desk Opens
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Exhibit Hall Opens
9 a.m.-noon General Education Session
Moderator:  Hon. Julie Smith, Potter County Clerk Vice President (CDCAT)
9-10 a.m. Debt and Collections
Mr. Wade Gent, Partner, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
10-10:30 a.m. Break in Exhibit Hall
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Destruction of Exhibits
Ms. Amy Manor, Criminal Division Director, Travis County
Ms. Diane Woods, Exhibit Management Clerk, Fort Bend County District Clerk's Office

Attendees at this session will learn the process of the destruction of felony criminal court exhibits and will receive a brief overview of logging and storage of exhibits. This session will be especially helpful to deputy clerks who are tasked with the destruction of old exhibits. The presentation will discuss forms and software used, identification of exhibits that are eligible for destruction, notification to the parties that the exhibits are eligible for destruction, and the return or destruction of the exhibits.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Senate Bill 6 Update
Ms. Sheri Woodfin, Court Consultant, Office of Court Administration

The Second Called Session of the 87th Legislature (2021) enacted Senate Bill 6 related to procedures for setting the amount of bail, the release of certain defendants on a monetary or personal bond, the duties of certain officers taking bail bonds and of magistrates in criminal cases, and to the reporting of information pertaining to bail bonds. The bill requires the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to implement a standardized public safety report system for statewide use. The bill also requires OCA to provide access, at no cost, to the system to the appropriate officials in each county and each municipality who perform magistrations. The bill also requires magistrates who set bail to consider the public safety report for a defendant charged with a Class B misdemeanor or higher category of offense. The project consists of developing the statewide Public Safety Report System (PSRS) that meets the requirements of Senate Bill 6, including reporting requirements; implementing the PSRS in all local magistrate offices throughout the state; and training all statewide users in the use of the PSRS. OCA contracted with AutoMon to develop the PSRS, which launched on April 1, 2022.

12:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch on your own
12:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Elections Lunch
2-5:30 p.m. Education Session Breakouts
  District Clerk Breakout Sessions
Room:  Century Ballroom I-II
Moderator: Hon. Clarissa Webster, Ector County District Clerk
County Clerk Breakout Sessions
Room:  Century Ballroom III-IV
Moderator: Hon. Brenda McKanna, Moore County Clerk
2-3 p.m.

Jury Trials-Virtual and In-person
Hon. Karin Crump, Judge, 250th District Court
Ms. Danikae Doetsch, Division Director, Travis County
Ms. Jessica Cortez, Travis County

This is a brief overview of the collaborated processes regarding remote jury trials in Travis County.

Probate
Ms. Stephanie Moreno, Judicial Education Program Manager, Texas Association of Counties

This session will provide a general overview of probate proceedings in county court, when a transfer to district court is required, and timelines required under the Estates Code.

 

3-4 p.m. Family vs. SAPCR: What Is the Difference?
Hon. Sharena Gilliland, Parker County District Clerk

An overview of the differences in SAPCR cases compared to other family cases, and how clerks should file each.

3-3:30 p.m. Break in Exhibit Hall for County Clerks
   

3:30-4:30 p.m. Guardianship
Ms. Stephanie Moreno, Judicial Education Program Manager, Texas Association of Counties

This presentation will provide a general overview of a guardianship proceeding, the timelines that are required under the Estates Code, and guardianship resources provided by the Office of Court Administration.

  4-4:30 p.m. Break in Exhibit Hall for District Clerks  
4:30-5:30 p.m.

District Clerk Roundtable
Room: Century Ballroom I-II

County Clerk Roundtable
Room: Century Ballroom III-IV

Combo Clerk Roundtable
Room: Ross (2nd Floor)

5:30 p.m. Adjourn for day
Wednesday, September 14
General Education Sessions
8 a.m.-noon Registration and Information Desk open
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m.-noon General Education Session
Moderator: Hon. Velva Price, Travis County District Clerk ; Treasurer (CDCAT)
9-10 a.m.

The Future of Hybrid Workforce
Ms. Lorie Floyd,  PHR, Human Resources Consultant, Texas Association of Counties

As we adjust to new ways after the pandemic, we should consider a hybrid workforce and what that means. Some employees want to work remotely, but we still have a responsibility to our taxpayers. Maybe your office is not big enough or your county does not have the means to allow remote work. During this session, we will talk about managing a hybrid workforce, the requirements for remote working, and how to manage employees when remote work is not available.

10-11 a.m.

eFile Analytics
Ms. Ellen Reed, Product Manager, Tyler Technologies

Texas eFile Analytics is a data analytics application based on tracking electronic filings and document processing. It is currently available to court administrators and clerks in Texas state courts. Ellen Reed, the product manager who worked with the Office of Court Administration to develop eFile Analytics, will explain the data sources and functionality of eFile Analytics, detail enhancement requests received and the timeline for development. She will also request audience feedback to learn more from the court community about their needs related to data and analytics.

11-11:30 a.m.

How Do I Request ARPA Funds for Records Preservation?
Ms. Samantha Humphrey, Director of Economic Development and Grant Management, Chambers County

Did you know ARPA funds are available to use as clerks’ preservation money? Many clerks don’t know how or what to ask for concerning ARPA funds. Join in on this conversation with a grant writer who admits grant-writing can be tedious, but it could be well worth it to secure ARPA funds.

11:45 a.m.

Announce Winners of Contest

*Agenda subject to change

Continuing Education Type Hours
County, District and Combination Clerks 15

Conference registration is transferable to another person within your organization without an additional charge. Cancellation refund requests received in writing (email and fax acceptable) by Friday, Aug. 19, will be granted, minus a $10 administration fee. We are unable to honor refund requests received after Aug. 19.

Please contact Sam Burke for cancellations at samb@county.org or by fax at (512) 477-1324.

Please contact Sarah Lazarowitz, events director with County Progress magazine, for questions about exhibitor or sponsor opportunities at (325) 673-4822, ext. 2121.

You can also visit the County Progress conference page for exhibitor registration details.

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