Contents of On-Site Classes
Code Enforcement and Mental Health – 6 CEU’s
This is a professional level six (6) CEU credit class appropriate for elected officials, code and law enforcement officers, and other local government staff that focus professional response to homelessness and mental illness inside Texas’ 1,225 cities, towns, and villages. This class addresses two issues facing Texas cities and counties: Homelessness and Mental Health. [Instructors: Burks & Burks]
Illegal Dumping Enforcement – Hybrid 2-Day Class – 12 CEU’s
This is a two-part class for twelve (12) CEU hours. It is a good class for officers working either in city or county locations as well as for elected officials and prosecutors, no matter their level of experience. The first part is an taking an “on-your-own” self-paced online class on Texas criminal anti-dumping enforcement laws. This class is designed to make sure everybody has a basic understanding of our state anti-pollution laws. Two different online classes are available for you to select from, depending on your interest in city or county enforcement. Your access to this online class begins the moment you register; most participants will complete the basic online class before the second part. This is an in-person, day-long class to answer questions, provide clarifications, and discuss enforcement options in various situations. [Ockels]
Illegal Dumping Inside Municipalities – 6 CEU’s
Inside municipalities, illegal dumping does not always happen where municipal codes are in force or effective. This six (6) CEU credit class reviews the various criminal laws that work with (or instead of) municipal codes to reduce dumping. It discusses the problems involved in becoming more effective in stopping dumping in your community. [Ockels]
Rules of the Road for Code Officers – 6 CEU’s
This six (6) CEU credit class covers some of the recent changes in the World of Code Enforcement, including: Identifying ordinance violations; Working through the elements of your ordinances; Report writing: Case preparation for BSC/Court; Statutory Authority to abate; Process steps to follow when abating an ordinance violation; and Dealing with properties with no owners. This is the place to get your questions answered! [Matthews]
Substandard Structure Investigations – 6 CEU’s
This six (6) CEU credit class focuses on the policies and practices needed to have a well-functioning local substandard structure identification and abatement process. Topics included are: the Enforcement context; Identifying substandard structures using your ordinance; Statutory authority for substandard structure abatement; Lis Pendens Lien; Using the 27-Step Abatement Process; Properties with no owners; Case preparation and presentation to BSC; Abating a mobile/manufactured home; and Report writing. This is an outstanding class to use to measure your current program or to begin or expand one. [Matthews]
Contents of On-Line Classes
Orientation to Local Environmental Enforcement
TIDRC000 is a free one-CEU credit (one-hour) class designed to provide a basic understanding of specific anti-pollution criminal laws. This class is available to anybody, including government staff, elected officials, or members of the public needing an overview of the local enforcement options.
Legal / Legislative Update
TIDRC001 is a one CEU credit (one-hour) class designed to meet the requirements for code enforcement officers to complete training in Legal / Legislative Update Related to the Profession of Code Enforcement every two years. Other than what’s suggested by the title itself, no specific content is specified in state statutes or TDLR rules, so the focus of this class will change from time to time.
Oil and Gas Waste
TIDRC002 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class designed to provide a good understanding of specific criminal laws available to local peace officers in dealing with oil and gas waste illegally transported or dumped in unapproved places.
Illegal Dumping Enforcement
TIDRC003 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class that covers all aspects of using several Texas criminal laws to control illegal dumping. The class focuses on using THSC Chapters 341, 343, 365, and portions of Texas Water Code Chapter 7 (Subchapter E). It stresses the importance of courts in THSC Chapter 365 convictions always ordering the performance of 1 to 60 hours of community service picking-up litter [THSC Sec. 365.012(s)].
Illegal Outdoor Burning
TIDRC004 is six CEU credit (six-hour) class that goes into the details of the six ways that local governments can stop or control illegal outdoor burning, several of which are based on the Texas Outdoor Burning Rule (which the TCEQ enforces administratively but local governments can enforce criminally). The problems with enforcing misdemeanor burning discussed and workarounds suggested.
Enforcing Public Health Nuisance Laws
TIDRC007 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class designed to provide local code enforcement officers, registered sanitarians, and law enforcement officers an in depth understanding of how they can use two Texas public nuisance laws to respond to local pollution. The laws to be discussed are (1) THSC Chapter 341 which covers a number of things but focuses on the control of Public Health Nuisances everywhere in Texas; and, (2) THSC Chapter 343 Abatement of Public Nuisances in selected rural areas. Law enforcement in unincorporated areas can use BOTH of these; law enforcement inside municipalities can ONLY use THSC Chapter 341.
Scrap Tire Enforcement
TIDRC008 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class designed to provide local code enforcement officers, registered sanitarians, and police officers an in depth understanding of how they can use state laws to respond to illegally dumped scrap tires. The use and augmentation of TCEQ data on tire Generators is featured as is creation of a municipal ordinance to control scrap tires that can be more strict that state administrative rules.
Principles of Enforcement and Abatement
TIDRC009 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class providing a detailed summary of the primary ways local governments can enforce Texas municipal codes and criminal laws against pollution and the primary ways that pollution can be abated.
Coordinated Local Environmental Enforcement
TIDRC012 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class designed to provide local code enforcement officers, registered sanitarians, police officers, health department staff, and elected officials an in depth understanding of the ways that local governments can work together to control pollution in their communities.
Current Topics in Local Enforcement
TIDRC015 is a six CEU credit (six-hour) class designed to provide local code enforcement officers, registered sanitarians, and police officers an opportunity to focus on topics of interest in local enforcement. The content of this class will change from time to time. Topics in this edition include: (1) A Very Good Dumping Enforcement Option for Municipalities; (2) Illegal Dumping Enforcement is a Local Government Responsibility; (3) Why does nothing seem to happen in many dumping cases?; (4) Using the TCEQ Central Registry; (5) A warning about Artificial Intelligence.
Contact Us:
John Ockels, Director
ockels@mac.com
(903) 267-7324
Box 3022
Sherman, TX 75091