Travis County Bail Bond Board Meeting Minutes - November 2, 2022
Present:
- Ms. Dolores Ortega-Carter, Chair (In Person)
- Judge Nicholas Chu, Vice-Chair (In Person)
- Judge Ron Meyerson, 2nd Vice-Chair (Virtual)
- Mr. Billy Engle, Bail Bond Representative (In Person)
- Lt. Christina Dail, TCSO (Virtual)
- Judge Selena Alvarenga, 460th District Court (In Person)
- Ms. Amanda Green, County Clerk’s Office (In Person)
- Mr. Benjamin Blackburn, ACDLA (In Person)
- Ms. Velva Price, District Clerk (In Person)
- Judge Carlos Barrera, County Court #8 (Virtual)
Also Present:
- Ms. Annalynn Cox, County Attorney’s Office (In Person)
- Ms. Vickie P. Riojas, Bail Bond Board Secretary (In Person)
- Mr. Drew Johnson, First Community Insurance Company (Virtual)
- Mr. Troy McLehany, Kwik Out Bail Bonds (Virtual)
Ms. Ortega-Carter called the meeting to order.
A. Consider minutes of the October 5, 2022, meeting and take appropriate action.
Judge Chu moved, Mr. Engle seconded, and the Board voted to approve the minutes with Ms. Price and Mr. Blackburn abstaining.
B. Consider the renewal application for First Community Insurance Company, agent Billy Engle, dba Lone Star Bail Services, license #281423, and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle made an oral amendment to his renewal application for question 16(L) stating that Nicholas Martin is no longer an employee with his company. Judge Chu moved, Ms. Price seconded, and the Board voted to approve the renewal application for a 3-year term, with Mr. Engle abstaining.
C. Receive report from subcommittee conducting site visit to bail bond licensees’ offices and take appropriate action.
Mr. Engle reported on behalf of the subcommittee that they visited the offices of Lone Star Bail Services, Bail Bonds Express, Kwik Out Bail Bonds, AAction Bail Bonds, Austin, Texas Bail Bonds, Bulldog Bail Bonds, ATX Bail Bonds 2, 24-7 Bail Bonds, Freedom Bail Bonds, Around the Clock Bail Bonds and Matt Clark’s Freedom Bail Bonds. All reflected that licensees/agents were in compliance with applicable statutes and rules. Mr. Engle noted that the subcommittee first attempted to visit Kwik Out Bail Bonds at the address on file and found that the company was no longer operating at that address. The subcommittee contacted Kwik Out Bail Bonds and was told they had moved in January 2022 and was given a new address. The Subcommittee was able to conduct the site visit at the new location with no other issues. After discussion, Judge Chu moved, Judge Alvarenga seconded, and the Board voted to have the County Attorney’s Office draft a letter to the Mr. McLehany to remind him to review the Travis County Bail Bond Board rules and regulations as well as Chapter 1704 of the Texas Occupations Code.
D. Discuss upcoming elections for seats on the Travis County Bail Bond Board and take appropriate action.
The Board discussed the upcoming elections to the Bail Bond Board. After discussion, Ms. Price moved, Judge Chu seconded, and the Board voted to conduct the election for the criminal defense attorney representative to the Bail Bond Board on Friday, December 16, 2022, during the Holiday party for ACDLA and CAPDS, and to continue conducting the election for the licensed bail bond agent representative online. Judge Chu notified the Board that the Justices of the Peace would be conducting their election on Thursday, November 3, 2022. Judge Alvarenga announced that Judge Brandy Mueller will be replacing her as the District Judges’ representative of the Board effective January 1, 2023.
E. Public Comment
Ms. Price and Judge Meyerson informed the Board that City of Austin Municipal Court would be having their open house on November 10, 2022, from 3pm – 7pm.
Ms. Cox welcomed Ms. Green to the Board as the new designee from the Travis County Clerk’s Office.
Judge Chu moved, Mr. Engle seconded, and the Board voted to adjourn.
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