The Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool proudly introduces the Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast Series. The Pool is producing this regular podcast series, which has been dubbed STP, to help local officials (and managers and staff) understand key operational and legal concepts, and the services the Pool provides. After arming members with that information, each 15-minute episode will give easy action items to help keep your citizens, employees, volunteers, and property safe, all while saving public dollars. The Pool provides financial strength and stability through a partnership with over 2,800 local governments, providing workers’ compensation coverage to over 165,000 public servants, and protecting more than $48 billion in property. The collective success makes members Stronger, Together, demonstrated through the Pool’s core values: Integrity: Serving with honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Public Service: Serving the public good – for the benefit of local governments and their tax-paying citizens. Fiscal Responsibility: Responsibly managing our members’ pooled funds for the protection of their financial stability. Operational Excellence: Delivering excellent member service in all components of risk financing and loss prevention services. Listen Now Episode 10b - Part 2 “Workers' Compensation: First Responder Disease Presumption” Posted November 9, 2021 Listen to "Workers' Compensation: First Responder Disease Presumption," the second part of the tenth episode in the TML Risk Pool’s STP Series. The TML Risk Pool provides workers’ compensation coverage for thousands of first responders. State law provides a special workers’ comp benefit to those employees, known as the disease presumption law. Simply put, the law “presumes” that first responders contracted certain diseases on the job for purposes of workers’ comp benefits. In this episode, you’ll hear about the presumption, how it’s administered, and how the Pool partners with Members to help guide them through the complex process. Further information: Texas Department of Insurance - Division of Workers’ Compensation First Responder FAQ Texas Government Code Chapter 607 Listen Now Episode 10a - Part 1 “Workers' Comp: Taking Care of Your Employees" Posted October 14, 2021 The TML Risk Pool provides workers’ compensation coverage for more than 200,000 local government employees, and receives around 10,000 claims per year. The Workers’ Compensation Department is the largest of all the Pool’s departments, largely because the workers compensation process is highly-regulated by the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of Insurance. In this episode, you’ll hear from key Pool staff about the process and how it’s administered, most importantly how we partner with Members to help guide them through the complex process. Further information: Texas Political Subdivision Workers’ Compensation Alliance Texas Department of Insurance - Division of Workers’ Compensation Division of Worker’s Compensation – Performance-Based Oversight Results Lubbock Firefighter Matt Dawson Receiving Risk Pool Worker’s Compensation Benefits: Everything Lubbock KCBD Listen Now Episode 9 "Cybersecurity: Are You Prepared?" Posted September 2, 2021 Local governments, in addition to the nuts-and-bolts services they provide, are actually just as much in the business of providing and maintaining information, and local officials should recognize that they should work at it just as hard at protecting that information as they do providing law enforcement and maintaining streets and water lines. You’ve got to think of cybersecurity as part of your daily work serving and protecting your residents. In today’s world, you just can’t afford to be unprepared – that’s true whether your population is 250,000 or 250. In this episode, you’ll hear why local governments are frequently targeted by cyber-criminals, how the Risk Pool can help you avoid trouble on the front end, and that we’ve got your back should you get hacked. Further information: TML Risk Pool’s Cyber-Liability Home Page TML Risk Pool’s State-Mandated Cyber-Security Training Will Trevino’s Cybersecurity Blog CPM Applied Research: Steps in Building a Successful Cybersecurity Protocol Texas City Attorneys Association: Cyber Security is a Risky Business: PowerPoint Presentation Paper Cyber-Breach Checklist Listen Now Episode 8 “First Responders and COVID-19 Vaccines" Posted August 19, 2021 Provides COVID-19 statistics and the story of Roger Dean – as told by his surviving family. Roger was a healthy 31-year-old Seguin firefighter who passed away after a months-long battle with COVID. Further information: Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccine Information Web Page Listen Now Episode 7 "Disciplining and Terminating Employees: Liability and the Pool’s ‘Call Before You Fire’ Hotline" Posted July 28, 2021 Explains: (1) that you may be liable for improper employment actions; and (2) the availability to speak with one of the Pool’s attorneys prior to taking action. Further information: TML Risk Pool’s “Call Before You Fire Program” Employment Law Manual for Texas Cities Texas Municipal Human Resources Association Ask a Texas Municipal League Attorney Listen Now Episode 6 “The storm has passed, now what? The Pool's SynergyNDS Turnkey Recovery Program" Recorded May 19, 2021 Explains: (1) the legalities of purchasing and rebuilding requirements after a hurricane or other disaster; and (2) how the Pool uses Synergy to assist member recovery. Further information: SynergyNDS Flyer Synergy/TML Risk Pool Hurricane Harvey Recovery Video Synergy’s TML IRP Website TML Emergency Management Resources TDEM Preparedness Listen Now Episode 5 “Keep Your Police Officers Safe: TPCA’s Vincible Program” Recorded in May 2021 Explains the officer safety and risk management benefits when a member’s law enforcement agency used the Vincible Training Program. Further information: Vincible Promotional Video Vincible Website Texas Police Chiefs Association VINCIBLE: Removing the “In” in “Us” by Chief Stan Standridge Example Roll Call Trainings: Week 289 “Seatbelts and Texting While Driving” Week 273 “Let it Breathe” Listen Now Episode 4 “The storm has passed, now what? The Pool’s BEST Roofing and Enhanced Property Damage Recovery Programs” Recorded May, 13, 2021 Explains how the Pool uses the BEST Roofing Program (Scott Franklin and 4T Partnership) to assist member recovery. Further Information: Texas Municipal Procurement Made Easy Texas Municipal Procurement Cheat Sheet TML Risk Pool Building Envelope Systems Team (BEST) Roofing Program Flyer City of Del Rio Article Listen Now Episode 3 “Sewage Backups: Know Before You Go” Posted April 23, 2021 Explains: (1) the law related to a local government’s liability for raw sewage backups into customers’ homes or businesses; and (2) the Pool’s supplemental sewage backup coverage. Further information: Sewage Backups: Know Before You Go (Q&A) Sewage Backups: Know Before You Go (Cheat Sheet) Listen Now Episode 2b “Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam” Posted July 8, 2021 The information in this episode becomes effective on September 1, 2021. In this episode, we talk about whether local governments can prohibit — or allow — employees to actually carry a gun while at work, and how that can affect your workplace and your risk of a lawsuit. Further information: Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam V3 (Comprehensive Paper in Q&A Format) Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam V3 (Cheat Sheet) Listen Now Episode 2a “Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam” Posted July 9, 2021 The information in this episode becomes effective on September 1, 2021. Explains the authority of a local government to prohibit or allow employees with a license to carry a handgun at work, the potential liability for doing so, and basics of the Pool’s coverage. Further information: Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam V3 (Comprehensive Paper in Q&A Format) Local Governments and Firearms: Avoiding a Jam V3 (Cheat Sheet) November 2021 Update: Licensed Carry in Meetings Listen Now Episode 1 “What’s the City Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast Series and Why I Should be Listening?” Posted April 23, 2021 Explains: (1) why the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool was started and the services it provides; and (2) the STP Series and how it can help elected officials keep their citizens, employees, volunteers, and property safe, all while saving public dollars. Meet Your Host Scott Houston, the Pool’s Member Liaison, is host of the Podcast. After serving the Texas Municipal League for over 20 years, the last half as general counsel, Scott now serves as Intergovernmental Relations Manager for the Pool and part-time special counsel to the Texas Municipal League. He has served as an adjunct professor, been published in the Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, and has received awards from the American Bar Association, Texas Bar, and International Municipal Lawyers Association. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in political science and – after studying law in Austria and Argentina – received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. City Officials and Attorneys, did you know? City councilmembers can earn up to 19 Texas Municipal League Institute CEUs for listening to the podcasts. To receive CEUs for a particular episode, an elected official must provide a description of the episode, which must be educational in nature, pertain to municipal leadership, and should enhance your service as an elected official, for TML approval. Attorneys who listen to podcasts may be eligible for up to three hours of self-study CLE credit. Please refer to the State Bar CLE compliance rules for more information. Sign Up For Podcast News Email* Last Name First Name Questions or Comments? Visit www.tmlirp.org, call 512-791-4158, or email scott.houston@tmlirp.org. Follow Us Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Follow us