DPS Accountability?

[chuckybrown]

I read this in a post:

"I am a Law Enforcement Officer, and yes, the background really only takes a few minutes. They are just making excuses for not doing their work."

So my question is this: Just who the heck is holding DPS accountable? No one? I'm probably beating a dead horse, but it seems that SOMEONE should be making OUR government agency to what OUR government agency should! Am I naive?

Why aren't more of these "investigative journalists" doing a story on this rather than city employees taking 2 hour lunches? <---I know, expecting the media to be on our side in this issue is a stretch....

I understand that Mr. Cotton is working on a mass filing of some sort, but it seems that may a bit too "kind"?

I don't make a very good "Sheeple", and it irritates the crap out of me that folks that are supposed to be working for US get away with this.

My .02 cents and I'm back quiet.

CB

[seamusTX]

Ultimately the legislature has authority over the way that DPS is doing its job (or failing to do it). The governor does not have a lot of power to give orders to other executives, but he does have moral authority. The TSRA keeps an eye on them.

Did you see this?

I can't explain why the situation hasn't improved since 2008, except that even if DPS ramped up to handle the number of applications that they were getting then, they are getting many more now.

I also don't know why Gov. Perry has not done more. He is generally 100% on our side.

I know, expecting the media to be on our side in this issue is a stretch....

You got that right.

- Jim

[suthdj]

I wonder how they came up with how much a fee to charge I would like to think it was some sort of cost accounting taking into account time,labor and material etc.... If it was then the money should be there to hire more people to cover the increase in how many app there are, if not then did they just pull a number out of a hat or what.

[seamusTX]

The law specifically requires DPS to set a fee that covers the cost of processing applications.

Probably back in 1995 they estimated how much labor, equipment, floor space, telephones, printing, etc., would cost. This is something that people in business know how to do.

It has turned out that DPS processes applications for much less cost than the $140. However, they did not decrease the fee or use the revenue to expand the CHL division.

They have about the same budget now as two years ago. I dug up this information several months ago: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 38&t=24647" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At some point, the legislature waived the fee for recently discharged veterans. They also required some non-LEOs who are allowed by statute to carry weapons (judges, etc.) to get CHLs at no charge. I don't know how many applicants are in those categories.

First-time CHL applicants who pay full fare are actually subsidizing the state's general fund.

- Jim

[bayouhazard]

First-time CHL applicants who pay full fare are actually subsidizing the state's general fund.

That's an important point. The application fees from everyone go into the general fund. Not one penny goes to increase the CHL unit's budget. When the workload increases because of more applications, their budget stays the same. Anybody who ever managed a business in the private sector knows why that doesn't work.

[sunrise]

Would a open record request to DPS requesting the document allowing or approving TDPS to disregard the statutory time limits in Gov"t code 411.176, 411.177, 411.180 and 411.185 be helpful? This could be a starting point whether the document/ approval exists or not. I'm no lawyer, Any thoughts?

Just my 2 cents worth,

sunrise

[seamusTX]

Welcome to the forum.

I have no idea what an open record request to DPS would do.

I rather doubt there would be a memo saying that it was OK to ignore the time limit, though. Bureaucrats just don't put that kind of thing in writing.

More likely they have a long paper trail complaining about budget inadequacy.

- Jim

[Charles L. Cotton]

Would a open record request to DPS requesting the document allowing or approving TDPS to disregard the statutory time limits in Gov"t code 411.176, 411.177, 411.180 and 411.185 be helpful? This could be a starting point whether the document/ approval exists or not. I'm no lawyer, Any thoughts?

Just my 2 cents worth,

sunrise

There is no authorization to violate the Gov't Code, so the response would be short; i.e. "No documents coming within the scope of your request exist."

Chas.

[sunrise]

Thanks for the response and welcome, seamusTX .

Thank you for the legal information Mr. Cotton.

sunrise