WELCOME TO BOOT CAMP TMCEC New Clerks Seminar December 15-19, 2014 WELCOME TO AUSTIN ROADMAP Announcements TMCEC: Who We Are Working in Municipal Court Professional Development
TMCEC: WHO WE ARE 2210 Hancock Drive 800.252.3718 512.320.8274 TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Hope Lochridge: Exec Director ATTORNEYS: Ryan Turner Mark Goodner Regan Metteauer Robby Chapman STAFF: Tessa Madison Jacob Stone Pat Ek Patty Thamez Crystal Ferguson Deadra Stark Chris Clontz Avani Bhansali TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Hope Lochridge Executive Director
STAFF TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Chris Clontz Communication Assistant TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Pat Ek Registration Coordinator
TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Crystal Ferguson Research Assistant TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Tessa Madison Program Coordinator Clerk Certification Program Level III Assessment Clinic TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Deadra Stark Administrative Director
TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Jacob Stone Multimedia Specialist TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Patty Thamez Program Coordinator & Network Administrator ATTORNEYS
TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Ryan Kellus Turner General Counsel & Director of Education Prosecutor Seminar Juvenile Case Manager Seminar TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Mark Goodner Deputy Counsel & Program Attorney Judges Program Judges Regional Seminar New Judges Seminar TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Regan Metteauer Program Attorney Traffic Safety Conference Bailiff/Warrant Officer Conference TMCEC Webinars
TMCEC: WHO WE ARE Robby Chapman Program Director Court Clerk Program New Clerks Boot Camp Regional Clerks Seminars Court Administrators Seminar WHAT WE OFFER TMCEC Publications Legislative Updates Academic Calendar Charts The Recorder 800 Line GOOGLE SEARCH FUNCTION
Find it at www.tmcec.com/resources/charts/
12 hour program Topics include fundamentals and new trending issues each year Top speakers from around the state WHAT WE OFFER online.tmcec.com Webinars Online lessons, flashcards, study materials Court security resources
THE BRICK AKA THE CODE BOOK THE BENCH BOOK
THE FORMS BOOK TRIAL HANDBOOKS MUNICIPAL JUDGES BOOK
THE GREEN BOOK THE PURPLE BOOK English to Spanish terms BEST PRACTICES IN COURT SECURITY
ROADMAP Announcements TMCEC: Who We Are Working in Municipal Court Professional Development Welcome to Municipal Court Where are you on this chart?
MUNI COURT Municipal Courts handled 5,989,830 cases in 2013 More than $751 million in fines/costs assessed Tranfers Court Fines Interest Property Tax Sales Tax Franchises Other Sources Permits/Fees Source: TML Survey
PURPOSE OF COURTS 1) To do individual justice in individual cases 2) To appear to do justice in individual cases 3) To provide a forum for the resolution of legal disputes 4) To protect citizens against arbitrary use of government power PURPOSE OF COURTS 5) To make formal record of legal status 6) To deter criminal behavior 7) To help rehabilitate those convicted of crimes 8) To separate persons convicted of serious offenses from society
ROADMAP Announcements TMCEC: Who We Are Working in Municipal Court Professional Development
Municipal Court Clerk Certification Program Sponsored by the Texas Court Clerks Association in Cooperation With the Texas Municipal Courts Association and the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center Presented by Tessa Madison, Program Coordinator, TMCEC What is It? A professional development program for municipal court clerks- Comprised of three levels: Level I, Level II, and Level III; Designed to improve your knowledge, job performance and ability to assist the court. Who Is Involved? TMCEC Texas Municipal Courts Education Center TCCA Texas Court Clerks Association TMCA Texas Municipal Courts Association Texas State University-San Marcos
Level I Where do I start? Download a study guide from http://www.tmcec.com (it s free!), or order a copy off the website. Study, study, study!! Take the Level I certification test Complete 40 hours education Submit an application for Level I certification to TMCEC Move to Level II Level II Then what? Take Level II certification test Complete 40 hours education Submit application for Level II certification to TMCEC Move to Level III What s Level III? Level III is the highest level of certification. Once you become Level III certified, you earn the title of Certified Municipal Court Clerk (CMCC). Requirements for Level III: Complete Level III Certification Exam; Complete Court Observation Journal Attend 24-Hour Assessment Clinic 12-Hour Court Administrator seminar Complete 28 hours training
Keeping Your Certification Once you are certified at a particular level, you must attend continuing education to keep your certification. You need to stay up-to-date on court procedure! Continuing education requirements: Level I: 12 hours/academic year Level II: 12 hours/academic year Level III: 20 hours/academic year Proof of continuing education must be provided to TMCEC for certification to be maintained. FAQs When can I take the certification test? Tests are offered at all TMCEC 12-Hour regional conferences, and also at the TCCA Annual Meeting. Appointments can be made to test at TMCEC office How and when will I know if I passed the test? TMCEC will contact you within 45 days, by mail, stating whether or not you passed. What happens if I fail the test? You can re-take the exam as many times as needed, but you must pay the registration fee each time. More FAQ s How do I get the additional hours? Study Sessions- 4 hours Optional Sessions- 1.5-3 hours OLC (Live or Archived webinars) up to 8 hours TMCEC, TCCA, TMCA & many more How long do I have? Exam expires in 3 years (5 years for Level III) Hours expire in 3 years
How Much Does It Cost? TCCA Members Level I: $50 Note: Level I may not be retaken in parts Level II: $50 Retest: $25/part Level III: $50 Retest: $25/part Non-TCCA Members Level I: $90 Note: Level I may not be retaken in parts Level II: $90 Retest: $25/part Level III: $90 Retest: $25/part Everyone s Doing It 224 different cities have clerks certified, and the list keeps growing 536 Level I Certified Municipal Court Clerks 401 Level II Certified Municipal Court Clerks 48 CMCC, Level III Certified Municipal Court Clerks Need More Incentive? Many cities offer incentives to clerks who achieve levels of certification, such as pay raises. Some cities are even making certification a condition of hiring or continued employment!
Resources tmcec.com online.tmcec.com
texascourtclerks.org
Court Clerk Certification FAQ How do I become certified? In order to become certified at a particular level, a clerk must: 1. Pass the test for the level desired, 2. Fulfill the educational requirements, and 3. Fax or mail a completed application with the required documentation to TMCEC. What does a completed application packet include? A completed application packet must include: 1. A completed application for certification, 2. Proof of passing the exam within three years preceding the application for certification, and 3. Proof of completion of educational requirements within the three years prior to applying (which may include the following: certificates of completion from TMCEC training seminars; certificates of completion from other qualified training seminars; and/or proof of attendance at annual conferences of the TCCA or TMCA). When are the tests? The exams are generally administered from 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. the last day of each TMCEC Regional Clerks Seminar, Traffic Safety Conference, Juvenile Case Managers Seminar and the Court Administrator Conference. Testing at the Assessment Clinic will take place on the first day of the seminar from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. TCCA offers testing throughout the year at local chapters and at the annual TCCA conference. Testing at the TMCEC office in Austin is also open to first time testers and retakes. Call TMCEC to set up an appointment. What are the continuing education requirements? Each academic year (September-August), Level I and Level II certified court clerks must attend 12 hours of continuing education. CMCC, Level III certified court clerks, must attend 20 hours of continuing education. Which agencies are approved providers for continuing education? TCCA, TMCA, TMCEC, Institute for Court Management, National Center for State Courts, TDLR Approved Court Interpreter Training, Teen Court Conference and National Association of Court Managers are all approved providers. Is there an online option for continuing education? TMCEC Webinars can be used for Clerk Certification Credit (up to eight hours). NCSC webinars, live or archived, can also be used for Clerk Certification Credit (up to eight hours). Please note: The total hours of online credit that can be obtained is 8 hours. What happens if I do not meet my continuing education requirements? If the continuing education requirements are not met for an academic year, including submitting the renewal application and documentation to TMCEC, those persons are not viewed as being certified for that year. In order to maintain certification, Level I and Level II certified clerks will be required to attend 24 hours of education the following year and Certified Municipal Court Clerks (Level III) will be required to attend 40 hours of education the following year. If the continuing education requirements are not met for two or more academic years, including submitting the renewal application and documentation to TMCEC, those persons lose their certification and will be required to re-take the exam and re-apply for certification at Level I, regardless of prior certification. What happens if I am no longer employed by a municipal court? If you are no longer employed by a municipal court, you will no longer be contacted with reminders for certification renewal purposes. Sole responsibility for verifying and maintaining standing lies with the participant. TMCEC 2210 Hancock Dr. Austin, Texas 78756 Phone: 800-252-3718 Fax: 512-435-6118 tmcec@tmcec.com www.tmcec.com
Clerk Certification Program Costs Please Note: Costs are subject to change based on costs of materials and grant restrictions for any given year. Registration: Test Registration Fees: Level I - $50 for TCCA or TMCA members $90 for non-members Level II - $50 for TCCA or TMCA members $90 for non-members $25 per part for re-tests Level III - $50 for TCCA or TMCA members $90 for non-members $25 per part for re-tests Assessment Clinic: $100 registration fee (for Level III certification) Court Administrators Seminar: $100 registration fee (for Level III certification) Pre-conference Preparation Courses: Level I - No registration fee Level II - No registration fee Materials: Study Guides: Level I - $25* Level II - $25* Level III Books: Approximately $500** * Please add an additional $3 for shipping. Study guides may also be printed at no charge from the TMCEC web site: www.tmcec.com. **Level III books may be borrowed from TMCEC for a $100 deposit.
CERTIFICATION TEST PREPARATION COURSES LEVELS I and II The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, in cooperation with the Texas Court Clerks Association, Texas Municipal Courts Association and Texas State University is sponsoring the Municipal Court Clerks Certification Program. This optional program is designed with three levels of certification. In order to advance through the different levels, clerks must pass a standardized written exam at each level and satisfy certain other requirements. The test preparation courses are from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Day 1 at the site of the TMCEC Regional Clerks programs. Tentative dates are: 10/22/14 Tyler Holiday Inn 11/18/14 Austin Omni Southpark 1/5/15 San Antonio Omni 1/11/15 Galveston San Luis Resort 2/04/15 Crowne Plaza Addison 3/15/15 Houston Omni Westside 3/29/15 Austin Omni Southpark 4/07/15 Lubbock Overton Hotel 4/27/15 Pearl South Padre 6/08/15 Abilene MCM Elegante 6/21/15 Austin Omni Southpark Participants are required to bring their own materials. The cost of the guide is $25 and may be ordered from TMCEC or printed at no charge from our website: www.tmcec.com under the Resources tab. Clerks may attend the preparation course regardless of whether they are registered for the conference. However, TMCEC will not provide housing. To Register: Mail or fax the registration form attached at the bottom of this notice. Costs: Free of charge. Class: The classes will be conducted from 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Day 1 of each regional program, at the seminar site. Please pick up the course material from TMCEC staff at the hotel. Attendees will receive four hours of credit towards the educational requirements of the certification program. No partial credit will be awarded. CERTIFICATION TEST PREPARATION COURSE REGISTRATION FORM Site: Level of Test: Level I Level II (Check One) Date of Preparation Course: Name: City Served: E-mail Date Hired: Status: Full-Time Part-Time Court Administrator Court Clerk Deputy Court Clerk Other (specify) Court Mailing Address: City: ZIP: Court Telephone No: Court Fax No: I certify that I am currently serving as municipal court support personnel in the State of Texas. Applicant s Signature Date Return form to: TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78756 or send by FAX 512/435-6118
REGISTRATION FOR CLERKS CERTIFICATION TEST LEVELS I, II & III The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, in cooperation with the Texas Court Clerks Association, Texas Municipal Courts Association and Texas State University is sponsoring the Municipal Court Clerks Certification Program. This optional program is designed with three levels of certification. In order to advance through the different levels, clerks must pass a standardized written exam at each level and satisfy certain other requirements. The tests are usually from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the last day of each TMCEC Regional Clerks program. One exception to this is the Assessment Clinic where testing will take place on the first day of the seminar from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and dates are: 10/24/14 Tyler Holiday Inn 11/20/14 Austin Omni Southpark 1/07/15 San Antonio Omni Colonnade 1/13/15 Galveston San Luis Resort Spa 1/26/15 Austin Crowne Plaza 2/06/15 Addison Crowne Plaza 3/17/15 Houston Omni Westside 3/31/15 Austin Omni Southpark 4/09/15 Amarillo Ambassador Hotel 4/29/15 South Padre Island Pearl 6/10/15 Abilene MCM Elegante 6/23/15 Austin Omni Southpark 6/30/15 Austin Omni Southpark Eligibility: To be eligible to take the Level II test, you must have achieved Level I certification, and to take the Level III test, you must have achieved Level II certification. Registration: Mail the application for testing along with your payment to TMCEC, 2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas 78756. If you are registering for the Level II or Level III test, include a copy of the prior level certificate. Payment: A non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee of $50 for TCCA members per test or $90 for non-tcca members when taking any of the three tests in its entirety is required. If taking Level III in parts, $25 per part is required. If retesting for any part of Levels II & III, a $25 fee per part is required (or $50 for all 3 parts). Make check or money order payable to TMCEC and mail payment to 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, Texas. Cash will not be accepted. Deadline: The application and fee must be received by TMCEC five (5) working days prior to the date of the test. If registering by fax, remember to mail check so that it is received by the deadline. Advance payment is required for admission to the test. Confirmation: Your check will act as a receipt. No other receipts will be issued. Please note that the check processing can take up to 3 months due to the shipping of checks. Bring along: Pencil, photo ID, and current TCCA membership card. A photo ID is required to take the examination. TEST REGISTRATION FORM Site: Date of Test: Level of Test: Level I Level II (All three parts) Level III (All three parts) Retest: Level I Level II Level II Level II Level III Level III Level III Part A Part B Part C Part A Part B Part C Name: E-mail City Served: Court Mailing Address: City: ZIP: Court Telephone No: Court Fax No: Date Hired: Credit Card Payment: Amount to Charge: Credit Card Number Expiration Date Credit card type: $ MasterCard Visa Name as it appears on card (print clearly): Authorized signature: I certify that I have read the eligibility requirements to participate in the Municipal Court Clerks Certification Program. I further understand that if for any reason I am unable to take the test as scheduled, the fee will not be refunded to me nor will I be allowed to credit this payment to take the test at another date and time. Applicant s Signature Return form and payment to: TMCEC 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78756 or send by FAX 512/435-6118 Date
MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK CERTIFICATION RENEWAL APPLICATION (14-15) In order to maintain certification, at each of the three levels, it is required that the continuing education requirement be met each academic year. In order to maintain the Level I and Level II certification, 12 hours of continuing education must be completed each academic year. For those who are Certified Municipal Court Clerks, Level III certified, the continuing education requirement is 20 hours of education each academic year. For 2014-2015, the academic year is September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015. Clerks certified at each level must submit proof of their continuing education hours in order to maintain certification. The educational requirements can be met through the following approved providers: Texas Court Clerk Association (TCCA) - local chapters and annual conferences Texas Municipal Courts Association (TMCA) Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) National Center for State Courts (NCSC) National Association of Court Managers (NACM) Institute for Court Management (ICM) Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Approved Training for Court Interpreters Teen Court Conference (up to 12 hours) TMCEC Live or Archived Webinars (up to 8 hours) *Please note, the total hours of online credit that can be obtained is 8 hours. This Municipal Court Clerk Certification Renewal Application must be completed and returned to TMCEC prior to September 1, 2015. Remember to include copies of the certificates documenting your attendance. RENEWAL APPLICATION Level of Certification Applied for: Level I Level II Level III Name: City Served: E-mail: Status: Full-time Part-time Court Administrator Court Clerk Deputy Court Clerk Other (specify): Court Mailing Address: City: Zip Code: Court Telephone No.: Court Fax No.: Educational Seminar Attended: Date(s): Provider: Number of Hours: I certify that I have met the continuing education requirements as required by the Municipal Court Clerk Certification Program. I have enclosed/attached copies of the certificates documenting my attendance at the above listed programs. Applicant s Signature Date Return form to: TMCEC * 2210 Hancock Drive * Austin, TX 78756 * or send by FAX 512/435-6118
Verify Your Renewal Status Online There is now a way for you to verify the status of your Clerk Certification Renewal online! Once logged into your online account at register.tmcec.com look for the tab Certification Renewal. Displayed under the tab is the most current year renewed. For example, if you have already renewed for FY 14 it will say 2013-2014 Yes (see below for an example). If you do not remember your log in information, please contact TMCEC for assistance. **Emails will no longer be sent out confirming renewals. This will now serve as your confirmation.**