§ 82-61. Emergency conditions

(a) Authority to close government operations. The county commissioners court has the authority to close general government operations due to emergency conditions. Such action, unless specifically stated, does not close essential, emergency, residential and detention operations. The county fire marshal, under the direction of the county judge, is responsible for communicating with elected officials/department heads and media outlets if there are office closings or delayed openings due to inclement weather. Whenever possible, notification will be made before 6:00 a.m. to the designated radio and television stations.

(b) Employee time off with pay. With the approval of the commissioners court, regular employees of general government operations may be allowed approved time off with pay for those scheduled hours they would have worked had the county been in operation. If an employee is not aware that the county is closed and reports for work, he is not authorized additional pay or compensatory time for hours worked during this period. Approved time off with pay is not considered time worked, and such time off shall not be used to determine eligibility for overtime.

(c) Vacation, sick or holiday leave during periods of closure. Employees on vacation, sick leave or holiday leave during periods of closure are still recorded as using accrued leave.

(d) Time off with pay not authorized for home workers. Employees authorized to work at home shall not be authorized time off with pay for times the county is closed by the commissioners court.

(Ord. No. 2011-1463, 8-30-2011)