Well, since there is a question as to whether or not the CITIZENS for CRIMINAL JUSTICE just may be operating from inside the SO, along with some very strange, somewhat threatening emails.
Guess they realize they’re peeps are worried about FACEBOOK and what people can get via OPEN RECORDS.
The people writing this should realize that doing it AT SO or any county or state agency constitutes it being a GOVERMENTAL site and is subject to OPEN RECORDS.
You are a bunch of really stupid and desperate people, obviously, everyone knows whazzup.
H
Hey, I get into your memos and shit now so………………………….
Mike Dixon: Follow-up on S.B. 944 Memo
InanattempttostresstheimportanceofcomplyingwithS.B.944itappearsthatIhave
caused some unnecessary panic. First, note that SB 944 did not change the law—public business
conductedonaprivatedevicewasalreadypublicinformation.Allthelegislationdoesismake
thedevice-userthetemporarycustodianofsuchrecordsandprovideteethtotrytoensurethat
public information is not deleted or lost before its retention deadline.
FOR MOST EMPLOYEES THIS WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE EFFECT. For most
non-policymakingemployeesthisbillshouldhavelittleeffectbecausemostofyourtextsare
going to be transitory in nature (related to specific work tasks, a specific project, getting
informationonthelocationofameeting,schedulingameeting,seekingclarificationfroma
supervisor, and day-to-day work matters). These are all considered “transitory” and only must be
keptonlyaslongasadministrativelyneeded—whichusuallywouldmeanwhenthetextisno
longerrelevant orwhenthe matterwhichisthe subjectof thetextis completed.Forexample,a
text to haul a load of gravel to a specific site is of no administrative value after the load has been
hauledtothesitedirected.Drafts,editing,contactinformation,electronicdocumentsusedto
prepare paper documents, and day-to-day work talk do not have to be retained past their
administrative need, which in many cases is going to be the next day. IN ADDITION, mass texts
regardingtrainingopportunities, conferences,etc.;and unsolicitedjunktexts canbedeleted.
Furthermore,iftheinformationhasbeensavedonanelectronicstoragemediaintheCounty’s
control, the texts can be deleted. [Pleasedo notstart saving screen shots to the County system as
this will cause problems due to the additional storage space such require].
YOURPERSONALTEXTSCANNOTBEREQUIREDTOBEMADEPUBLIC.
The lawonly requires thattexts regarding Countybusiness must be turned overon request. You
do NOT have to provide texts that do not involve the public business of the County.
ItisonlywhenthetextCONTENTinvolvesasubjectmatterwhereaspecificretention
periodapplies thatthereshould beanyconcern. [budget,litigation,computersecurity incidents,
employee records, legal claims, claims of civil rights violation, bids and proposals, bond
planning,payroll,Countybankinginformation,financialtransactions/purchasing,maintenance
records, asset inventory; environmental inspections, bridge inspections, hazardous materials
inventory andaccountability, constructionplans, requiredfilings with stateor nationalagencies,
proofoftrainingrequiredbylaw,auditmaterials,accountingrecords, electionrecords,etc.]
Therearemanyretentionitems,butfewifanywilladdressmereday-to-daytextstocarryout
work assignments.
However, ifanemployee isinvolved inan areawhereretention isrequired, certaintexts
couldbecomesubjecttolongerretention.Forexample,atexttoasupervisorwarningthatthe
budgetisbeingexceededinacertainarea,atextprovidinganotheremployeewithapurchase
ordernumber, a reportofan accidenton Countypremises,a reportof aspill of chemicals,texts
assisting inputting together a bond package, textsstating an intention by the employee or
someoneelsetofileaclaimagainsttheCounty,textsidentifyingdangerousconditionsofa
bridgeorroad,ortextsregardingchangesneededtodesignorconstructionplansforaCounty
facility.Thereare many“Retention”areas.BUTAGAIN,mostemployee’sday-to-daytexts
regardingworkarenotgoingtorise tothislevel.GENERALLY, retention isbased onthe
IMPORTANCE of the content from a higher-level perspective
CountyofficialsandadministrativepersonnelarethepersonsmostaffectedbySB944becausemanytextswillinvolveimportantCountybusinessandpolicy.Iwilladdressthisinaseparate memo.
TO: COUNTY EMPLOYEES
FROM: MIKE DIXON
PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
A couple of years back County employees were made aware of the County’s Text Message Policy
that was adopted in light of S.B.944. A copy of the Text Message Policy is attached.
S.B.944 applies to electronic messages regarding County business. Employees should be aware
that County-business-related posts on Social Media are public records subject to the Texas Public
Information Act. Employees are discouraged from posting County business related content on
Social Media. It is each employee’s obligation to identity and archive social media posts on their
personal social media accounts that involve County business. Failure to do so could be a violation
of the Texas Public Information Act, and depending on the circumstances may warrant discipline,
which could include discharge.
For retention periods please see the attached Text message Policy.
We realize that this is inconvenient, but we do not write the law
