The Official Website of Jasper, Texas is known far and wide as the Jewel of the Forest

Privacy

Statement of Purpose

This policy describes the privacy practices regarding information collected from visitors to JasperTX.org. It contains information about what data is collected and how it is used. The JasperTX.org Privacy and Security Policy applies only to the JasperTX.org site. This policy does not apply whenever visitors leave the JasperTX.org domains and follow a link to another site, including the sites of state agencies and local governments. If the address in the browser does not indicate one of the JasperTX.org domains, you are no longer on the JasperTX.org site. The privacy and security policy of the site owner of each site visited should be reviewed to determine how each site owner addresses personally identifiable information. This policy may be updated periodically.

Collection of Information

For online transactions conducted on JasperTX.org, individuals will be requested to enter certain information about themselves and/or the organization with which they are affiliated. When personally identifiable information is requested, there will be an indication of whether the disclosure of such information is mandatory or optional to continue the transaction. The type of information requested will vary based upon the type of transaction and the state agency or local government involved in the transaction with the individual. JasperTX.org will collect the same information as would be collected if the transaction was performed in person, over the telephone, or through the mail with the state agency or local government. Additional information may be requested if required by law, if such information is necessary to verify an individual’s identity and secure the transaction, or if the visitor would like updates regarding new features offered by JasperTX.org. Information regarding JasperTX.org features will only be sent to visitors if they explicitly choose to receive it.

For all other browsing, visitors are not asked for personally identifiable information, and none will be collected. The server logs and persistent cookies of JasperTX.org collect information about the number and types of visitors to JasperTX.org and how they use the website. This information includes the type of browser, operating system, and the Internet Protocol ("IP") address used by each visitor and similar information about the computer network used. It also includes information verifying when and how pages of the website were accessed. However, no attempt is made to match this information with the identity of the visitor, except as is required to comply with a law enforcement investigation.

Use of Information

Information collected in the course of the transaction is used for the following purposes:

• To conduct online transactions with the appropriate local government (such as the payment of fines or utility bills);
• To send an email to the individual using the online service confirming the transaction; or
• To provide information about new features offered by JasperTX.org, to visitors who have elected to opt-in to receive the service.

Metrics from JasperTX.org server logs and persistent cookies are used for the following purposes:

• assessing the usability of JasperTX.org,
• determining what information is of most interest to JasperTX.org visitors,
• establishing technical design specifications,
• measuring JasperTX.org system performance and
• identifying potential issues associated with the interface or operation of JasperTX.org

JasperTX.org will not disclose the email addresses of members of the public that have communicated electronically with a governmental body without the affirmative consent of the affected individual. Personally identifiable information contained in a question or comment sent to JasperTX.org in an email message or submitted in an online form is only used by JasperTX.org to respond to the question or comment. JasperTX.org may redirect the message to a specific state agency or local government for response if JasperTX.org staff believes that the state agency or local government may be in a better position to answer the question than the staff of JasperTX.org.

The Department of Information Resources may be required by law enforcement or judicial authorities to provide personally identifiable information to the appropriate governmental authorities. The JasperTX.org operation will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in identifying those who appear to be using our services for illegal activities. The JasperTX.org operation reserve the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities that they in good faith believe to be unlawful.

JasperTX.org does not sell or release personally identifiable information. Information provided to any governmental body may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act and applicable federal legislation. Information about the Texas Public Information Act is available from the Office of the Attorney General and at Texas Government Code, Chapter 552. Additionally, although JasperTX.org does not sell or release personally identifiable information, certain state agencies or local governments whose sites are accessible through JasperTX.org may have different policies concerning the sale or release of personally identifiable information. Information about those policies should be obtained from the appropriate state agency or local government.

Cookies

Some of the online transactions hosted on JasperTX.org use cookies. A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on a visitor’s personal computer to track specific information about that visitor’s interaction with the website. The services hosted on JasperTX.org use both session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie is temporary and only exists during a single session in which a visitor visits JasperTX.org. Session cookies are used to keep track of a particular online transaction. JasperTX.org session cookies are destroyed after successful completion of a transaction, after a few minutes of inactivity or when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies continue to exist after a few minutes of inactivity, after the browser is closed or after a visitor completes a single session. JasperTX.org uses persistent cookies to track visitor activity on the site to structure content and make the JasperTX.org websites easy to use. All persistent cookies from JasperTX.org will expire within twenty-five months.

JasperTX.org cookies do not contain or collect personal identifiable information about visitors. Moreover, JasperTX.org will not match visitor activities with personally identifiable information.

If an individual’s web browser does not accept cookies, he or she may not be able to conduct online transactions on JasperTX.org. However, this will not hinder normal browsing of the website.

JasperTX.org does not utilize web bugs or any other technology to track user activity other than those stated in this policy.

Linking Policy

Statement of Purpose

This document outlines the policies for linking to and from the JasperTX.org website(s). The mission of JasperTX.org is to provide a single point of access to government and public information and services that is private, secure, convenient, efficient, service-oriented, and accessible to everyone.

JasperTX.org will use the guidelines outlined below to link to information and services in order to provide a public portal that allows citizens and businesses to quickly locate and access electronic government services and related information. This policy may be updated periodically.

Links to JasperTX.org

Advance permission to link to JasperTX.org.com is not necessary. However, be aware that JasperTX.org subpages, including the pages of state agencies and local governments, may change at any time without notice. Entities and individuals linking to JasperTX.org must continuously verify links to our subpages.

Entities and individuals linking to JasperTX.org shall not capture JasperTX.org pages within frames, present JasperTX.org content as its own, or otherwise misrepresent JasperTX.org content. Furthermore, they shall not misinform users about the origin or ownership of JasperTX.org content. Certain information on JasperTX.org may be trademarked, service-marked, or otherwise protected as intellectual property. Protected intellectual property must be used in accordance with state and federal laws and must reflect the proper ownership of the intellectual property.

Any link to the JasperTX.org site should be a full forward link that passes the client browser to JasperTX.org unencumbered. The "Back" button should return the visitor to original site if the visitor wishes to back out.

Links from JasperTX.org

This section outlines the criteria and requirements that external web sites must meet to have a link from JasperTX.org. It also details how links are accepted and removed from JasperTX.org.

JasperTX.org reserves the right to link to external web sites that it feels would provide a service to the citizen.

Acceptance Criteria

JasperTX.org links to federal, state, and local governments that provide information and services that benefit Texas citizens and businesses. At its discretion, JasperTX.org will consider link requests to non-governmental web sites that contain information and/or services that further the purpose of JasperTX.org.

JasperTX.org is not a forum for public communication and debate. The criteria outlined in this section have been established to ensure that JasperTX.org remains a non-public forum.

Every link request must undergo review to determine its relevance and appropriateness to the purpose of JasperTX.org. Links are approved for JasperTX.org based on the following criteria:

1. The external web site corresponds with the purpose of JasperTX.org
2. The site's content is appropriate with respect to the purpose of JasperTX.org and the site is not a
   • Commercial site, which charges a fee for products or services online; (Notices of the availability of publications by government entities that charge for the publications or notices of government sponsored conferences that charge a registration fee are not commercial sites and may be considered for linking.)
   • Site that exhibits hate, bias, discrimination, pornography, libelous or otherwise defamatory content;
   • Site that advocates or promotes the use of alcohol or tobacco;
   • Site that lobbies, advocates, or advances the policies and priorities of a particular industry, organization or enterprise. This includes sites of non-profit organizations;
   • Site belonging to or supporting a political affiliation; or
   • Site that furthers the agenda of a political organization or candidate running for office.

JasperTX.org reserves the right to deny links if it determines that a web site contains misleading or unsubstantiated claims, conflicts with the purpose of JasperTX.org, or does not meet one or more of the criteria set forth above in numbered sections or set out below in the Conditions for Link Maintenance on JasperTX.org section.

Review Process

1. Email link requests to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Each link request should address how the site meets the two acceptance criteria outlined above.
2. The link request will be reviewed against the acceptance criteria set forth above. The decision of the City Manager is final as to whether the requesting site may have a link from JasperTX.org.
3. Approved sites must comply with the following conditions for link maintenance.

Conditions for Link Maintenance on JasperTX.org

To give superior customer service to citizens and businesses accessing governmental information and services through JasperTX.org, we require that external web sites linked from JasperTX.org meet the following conditions in order to maintain a link on JasperTX.org:

1. The linked site must provide the user with access to an email address and/or a customer service telephone number on every page of the site, in order for users to contact the site if there are problems with format, accuracy, timeliness, or payment processing.
2. Linked sites should not excessively burden the JasperTX.org customer support system. If the site excessively burdens the JasperTX.org customer support system, the Authority has discretion to take linked site off of JasperTX.org. Any customer support required by JasperTX.org may result in a charge of fees to the linked site.
3. When the user clicks on the external web site link, he/she must have easy access back to JasperTX.org. One of two options can accomplish this:
   • A link to JasperTX.org can be established on the external website's main page; or
   • The "Back" button returns the user to JasperTX.org.
4. Linked sites must have a privacy and security policy accessible from their home page informing the user of what information is collected, how it is collected, how it is used, and how the user can review and correct the information. Linked sites must comply with accepted accessibility standards as provided by the Worldwide Web Consortium (http://www.w3c.org) to ensure that persons with disabilities may access these sites. Texas state agencies must follow 1 Texas Administrative Code Section 206.2, concerning State Web Sites (http://www.dir.state.tx.us/standards/S206.htm).
5. Linked sites must notify the JasperTX.org Division at the email address provided below if the site to which JasperTX.org links become inaccurate or inactive.

Removal Process

JasperTX.org reserves the right to remove links if it determines that a web site contains misleading or unsubstantiated claims, conflicts with the purpose of JasperTX.org, or does not meet one or more of the criteria set forth above in numbered sections or set out above in the Conditions for Link Maintenance on JasperTX.org section.

Links from JasperTX.org will be reviewed regularly and may be removed for the following reasons:

• The link no longer points to the original information or resource to which it was intended to point;
• The web site pointed to by the link contains inaccurate or misleading information or has changed such that it is no longer in compliance with the acceptance criteria;
• The web site pointed to by the link violates the conditions for link maintenance;
• Access to the information has become difficult due to non-standard formatting, lengthy download times, or intrusive advertising;
• The link is permanently unreachable or remains unavailable for a lengthy period; and
• The external web site fails to comply with the written linking agreement, if any.

The decision of the Division Director is final as to whether a link is to be removed from JasperTX.org.

Contact Information

For questions and concerns regarding the linking policy, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Legal Notices

Any trademarks that appear on this site are the property of their respective owners, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or sponsored by JasperTX.org. JasperTX.org respects the intellectual property of others. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please contact us.

PLEASE NOTE that users of this web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. JasperTX.org makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided via this web site. The State of Texas disclaims any express or implied warranty in providing for public use its computer system and any materials, information, graphics, products, or processes contained therein. It makes no warranty, express or implied, nor assumes any responsibility in the use of this service or its contents for its accuracy, completeness, currency, its use for any general or particular purpose, nor that such items or use of such items would not violate or infringe rights of others. This service is provided on a strictly "as is" basis.

The City of Jasper specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from providing the Web site or the information it contains, including any Web sites maintained by third parties and linked to the JasperTX.org site. JasperTX.org may provide links to Web sites maintained by third parties if it is determined that they may be of interest to users. JasperTX.org neither endorses the content, products, services, or viewpoints expressed by the linked sites, nor assumes any responsibility for the content of these linked web sites. JasperTX.org makes no effort to independently verify, and does not exert editorial control over, information on pages outside of the "JasperTX.org.state.tx.us" domain.

Upon leaving JasperTX.org and linking to an external site, the policies governing JasperTX.org no longer apply and users are subject to the external site’s policies. Questions and concerns regarding the information or services provided by a linked site must be directed to the entity or individual responsible for that site, rather than to JasperTX.org.

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Texas, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.