|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the administrative, civil, and criminal consequences, |
|
including fines, fees, and costs, imposed on persons arrested for, |
|
charged with, or convicted of certain criminal offenses. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Article 14.06(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) A peace officer who is charging a person, including a |
|
child, with committing an offense that is a [Class C] misdemeanor |
|
punishable by a fine only, other than an offense under Section |
|
49.02, Penal Code, may, instead of taking the person before a |
|
magistrate, issue a citation to the person that contains written |
|
notice of the time and place the person must appear before a |
|
magistrate, the name and address of the person charged, the offense |
|
charged, and the following admonishment, in boldfaced or underlined |
|
type or in capital letters: |
|
"If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving |
|
violence where you are or were a spouse, intimate partner, parent, |
|
or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another, |
|
similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to |
|
possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or |
|
ammunition, pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section |
|
922(g)(9) or Section 46.04(b), Texas Penal Code. If you have any |
|
questions whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or |
|
purchase a firearm, you should consult an attorney. |
|
"If you are ordered to pay a fine or costs in this case and |
|
are unable to afford the amount owed, contact the court |
|
immediately. You may be able to discharge the fine or costs by |
|
performing community service. In some circumstances, you may be |
|
able to have all or part of the fine or costs waived." |
|
SECTION 2. Article 45.014, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: |
|
(e) A justice or judge may not issue an arrest warrant for |
|
the defendant's failure to appear unless: |
|
(1) the justice or judge provides by telephone or |
|
certified mail to the defendant notice that includes: |
|
(A) at least two dates and times, occurring |
|
within the 30-day period following the date that notice is |
|
provided, when the defendant may appear before the justice or |
|
judge; |
|
(B) the name and address of the court with |
|
jurisdiction in the case; |
|
(C) information regarding alternatives to the |
|
full payment of any fine or costs owed by the defendant, if the |
|
defendant is unable to pay that amount; and |
|
(D) an explanation of the consequences if the |
|
defendant fails to appear before the justice or judge within the |
|
period described by Paragraph (A); and |
|
(2) the defendant fails to appear before the justice |
|
or judge on or before the 30th day after the date that notice is |
|
provided under Subdivision (1). |
|
(f) A defendant who receives notice under Subsection (e) may |
|
request an alternative date or time to appear before the justice or |
|
judge if the defendant is unable to appear on a date and at a time |
|
provided in the notice. |
|
(g) A defendant who voluntarily appears before a justice or |
|
judge to resolve an outstanding arrest warrant or an unpaid fine or |
|
cost may not be arrested on a warrant for any misdemeanor punishable |
|
by fine only during or immediately before or after the defendant's |
|
appearance. |
|
SECTION 3. Article 45.023, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
|
(e) A justice or judge who accepts the defendant's plea of |
|
guilty or nolo contendere shall advise the defendant that, |
|
regardless of the defendant's ability to pay, the defendant may |
|
request to perform community service under Article 45.049 to |
|
discharge any fine or cost imposed on the defendant in the case. |
|
SECTION 4. Article 45.041, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (b) and (b-2) and adding Subsection |
|
(b-2a) to read as follows: |
|
(b) Subject to Subsections (b-2), (b-2a), and (b-3) and |
|
Article 45.0491, the justice or judge may direct the defendant: |
|
(1) to pay: |
|
(A) the entire fine and costs when sentence is |
|
pronounced; |
|
(B) the entire fine and costs at some later date; |
|
or |
|
(C) a specified portion of the fine and costs at |
|
designated intervals; |
|
(2) if applicable, to make restitution to any victim |
|
of the offense; and |
|
(3) to satisfy any other sanction authorized by law. |
|
(b-2) When imposing a fine and costs, [if the justice or
|
|
judge determines that the defendant is unable to immediately pay
|
|
the fine and costs,] the justice or judge: |
|
(1) shall seek information from the defendant that is |
|
relevant to a determination of whether the defendant is able to |
|
immediately pay the fine or costs; and |
|
(2) if the justice or judge determines that the |
|
defendant is unable to immediately pay the fine or costs, shall |
|
allow the defendant to pay the fine or [and] costs, as applicable, |
|
in specified portions at designated intervals. |
|
(b-2a) When imposing a fine and costs, the justice or judge |
|
may require the defendant to perform community service as provided |
|
by Article 45.049 to discharge all or part of the fine or costs. |
|
SECTION 5. Article 45.045, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) If the defendant is not in custody when the judgment is |
|
rendered or, subject to Subsection (a-2), if the defendant fails to |
|
satisfy the judgment according to its terms, the court may order a |
|
capias pro fine, as defined by Article 43.015, issued for the |
|
defendant's arrest. The capias pro fine shall state the amount of |
|
the judgment and sentence[,] and shall command the appropriate |
|
peace officer to: |
|
(1) bring the defendant before the court immediately; |
|
or |
|
(2) [place the defendant in jail until the business
|
|
day following the date of the defendant's arrest] if the defendant |
|
cannot be brought before the court immediately, confine the |
|
defendant in jail and bring the defendant before the court not later |
|
than 24 hours after the time of the defendant's arrest, provided |
|
that if the defendant is not brought before the court within that |
|
period, the person having custody of the defendant shall release |
|
the defendant. |
|
(a-2) The court may not issue a capias pro fine for the |
|
defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms |
|
unless: |
|
(1) the court provides by certified mail to the |
|
defendant notice that includes: |
|
(A) a statement that the defendant has failed to |
|
satisfy the judgment according to its terms; |
|
(B) a date and time, occurring not later than the |
|
21st day after the date that notice is mailed, when the court will |
|
hold a hearing on the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment |
|
according to its terms; and |
|
(C) the location at which the hearing will be |
|
held; and |
|
(2) either: |
|
(A) the defendant fails to appear at the hearing; |
|
or |
|
(B) based on evidence presented at the hearing, |
|
the court makes a written determination that: |
|
(i) the defendant is not indigent and has |
|
failed to make a good faith effort to discharge the fine or costs; |
|
or |
|
(ii) the defendant is indigent and: |
|
(a) has failed to make a good faith |
|
effort to discharge the fine or costs under Article 45.049; and |
|
(b) could have discharged the fine or |
|
costs under Article 45.049 without experiencing any undue hardship. |
|
SECTION 6. Article 45.046(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) When a judgment and sentence have been entered against a |
|
defendant and the defendant defaults in the discharge of the |
|
judgment, the judge may order the defendant confined in jail until |
|
discharged by law if the judge at a hearing makes a written |
|
determination that: |
|
(1) the defendant is not indigent and has failed to |
|
make a good faith effort to discharge the fine or [and] costs; or |
|
(2) the defendant is indigent and: |
|
(A) has failed to make a good faith effort to |
|
discharge the fine or [fines and] costs under Article 45.049; and |
|
(B) could have discharged the fine or [fines and] |
|
costs under Article 45.049 without experiencing any undue hardship. |
|
SECTION 7. Article 45.048, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 45.048. DISCHARGED FROM JAIL. (a) A defendant placed |
|
in jail on account of failure to pay the fine and costs shall be |
|
discharged on habeas corpus by showing that the defendant: |
|
(1) is too poor to pay the fine and costs; [or] |
|
(2) has remained in jail a sufficient length of time to |
|
satisfy the fine and costs, at the rate of not less than $300 [$50] |
|
for each period [of time] served, as specified by the convicting |
|
court in the judgment in the case; or |
|
(3) has remained in jail for a cumulative period of 72 |
|
hours. |
|
(b) A convicting court may specify a period [of time] that |
|
is not less than eight hours or more than 24 hours as the period for |
|
which a defendant who fails to pay the fine [fines] and costs in the |
|
case must remain in jail to satisfy $300 [$50] of the fine and |
|
costs. |
|
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, if a defendant placed in |
|
jail on account of failure to pay the fine and costs has remained in |
|
jail for a cumulative period of 72 hours and the amount owed has not |
|
been fully discharged, the convicting court shall release the |
|
defendant from jail and shall waive the remaining amount owed. |
|
SECTION 8. Article 45.049, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (g) and |
|
adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (c-1) to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), a [A] justice or |
|
judge may require a defendant [who fails to pay a previously
|
|
assessed fine or costs, or who is determined by the court to have
|
|
insufficient resources or income to pay a fine or costs,] to perform |
|
community service under this article to discharge all or part of the |
|
fine or costs assessed in the case [by performing community
|
|
service]. |
|
(a-1) A justice or judge may require a defendant described |
|
by Article 45.0491(c) to perform community service under this |
|
article to discharge all or part of the fine or costs only if the |
|
justice or judge determines that the requirement would not impose |
|
an undue hardship on the defendant. |
|
(a-2) At sentencing, a defendant may request to perform |
|
community service under this article to discharge all or part of the |
|
fine or costs assessed in the case. The justice or judge shall |
|
grant the request if: |
|
(1) the defendant is described by Article 45.0491(c); |
|
or |
|
(2) granting the request is in the interest of |
|
justice. |
|
(a-3) A defendant may discharge an obligation to perform |
|
community service under this article by paying at any time the fine |
|
and costs assessed. |
|
(b) In the justice's or judge's order requiring or |
|
permitting a defendant to perform [participate in] community |
|
service [work] under this article, the justice or judge must |
|
specify the number of hours of community service the defendant is |
|
required to perform [work]. |
|
(c) The justice or judge may order the defendant, or the |
|
defendant may request under Subsection (a-2), to perform community |
|
service [work] under this article [only] for: |
|
(1) a governmental entity; |
|
(2) [or] a nonprofit organization or another |
|
organization that provides services to the general public that |
|
enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community, |
|
as determined by the justice or judge; |
|
(3) a religious organization; |
|
(4) a neighborhood association or group; or |
|
(5) an educational institution. |
|
(c-1) An [A governmental] entity [or nonprofit
|
|
organization] that accepts a defendant under this article to |
|
perform community service must agree to supervise, either on-site |
|
or remotely, the defendant in the performance of the defendant's |
|
community service [work] and report on the defendant's community |
|
service [work] to the justice or judge who ordered the [community] |
|
service. |
|
(d) A justice or judge may not order a defendant to perform |
|
more than 16 hours per week of community service under this article |
|
unless the justice or judge determines that requiring the defendant |
|
to perform [work] additional hours does not impose an undue [work a] |
|
hardship on the defendant or the defendant's dependents. |
|
(e) A defendant is considered to have discharged not less |
|
than $15 [$50] of fines or costs for each hour [eight hours] of |
|
community service performed under this article. |
|
(g) This subsection applies only to a defendant who is |
|
charged with a traffic offense or an offense under Section 106.05, |
|
Alcoholic Beverage Code, and is a resident of this state. If under |
|
Article 45.051(b)(10), Code of Criminal Procedure, the judge |
|
requires the defendant to perform community service as a condition |
|
of the deferral, the defendant is entitled to elect whether to |
|
perform the required [governmental entity or nonprofit
|
|
organization community] service in: |
|
(1) the county in which the court is located; or |
|
(2) the county in which the defendant resides, but |
|
only if the applicable entity [or organization] agrees to: |
|
(A) supervise the defendant in the performance of |
|
the defendant's community service [work]; and |
|
(B) report to the court on the defendant's |
|
community service [work]. |
|
SECTION 9. Article 45.0491, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 45.0491. WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES OR [AND] COSTS FOR |
|
CERTAIN [INDIGENT] DEFENDANTS AND FOR CHILDREN. (a) A municipal |
|
court, regardless of whether the court is a court of record, or a |
|
justice court may waive payment of all or part of a fine or costs |
|
imposed on a defendant [who defaults in payment] if the court |
|
determines that: |
|
(1) the defendant does not have sufficient resources |
|
or income to pay the fine or costs, as applicable, [is indigent] or |
|
was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by |
|
Article 45.058(h); and |
|
(2) the waiver is in the interest of justice |
|
[discharging the fine and costs under Article 45.049 or as
|
|
otherwise authorized by this chapter would impose an undue hardship
|
|
on the defendant]. |
|
(b) A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a |
|
court of record, or a justice court shall waive payment of costs and |
|
at least 50 percent of a fine imposed on a defendant described by |
|
Subsection (c) if the court determines that the defendant does not |
|
have sufficient resources or income to pay the fine and costs. |
|
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), a defendant is presumed |
|
not to have sufficient resources or income to pay the fine and costs |
|
if the defendant: |
|
(1) is required to attend school full time under |
|
Section 25.085, Education Code; |
|
(2) is a member of a household with a total annual |
|
income that is below 125 percent of the applicable income level |
|
established by the federal poverty guidelines; or |
|
(3) receives assistance from: |
|
(A) the financial assistance program established |
|
under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; |
|
(B) the medical assistance program under Chapter |
|
32, Human Resources Code; |
|
(C) the supplemental nutrition assistance |
|
program established under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; |
|
(D) the federal special supplemental nutrition |
|
program for women, infants, and children authorized by 42 U.S.C. |
|
Section 1786; or |
|
(E) the child health plan program under Chapter |
|
62, Health and Safety Code. |
|
SECTION 10. Article 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection |
|
(f) to read as follows: |
|
(a) A defendant convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor shall |
|
pay the following fees for services performed in the case by a peace |
|
officer: |
|
(1) $5 for issuing a written notice to appear in court |
|
following the defendant's violation of a traffic law, municipal |
|
ordinance, or penal law of this state, or for making an arrest |
|
without a warrant; |
|
(2) $50 for executing [or processing] an issued arrest |
|
warrant, capias, or capias pro fine with the fee imposed for the |
|
services of: |
|
(A) the law enforcement agency that executed the |
|
arrest warrant or capias, if the agency requests of the court, not |
|
later than the 15th day after the date of the execution of the |
|
arrest warrant or capias, the imposition of the fee on conviction; |
|
or |
|
(B) the law enforcement agency that processed the |
|
arrest warrant or capias, if[:
|
|
[(i)
the arrest warrant or capias was not
|
|
executed; or
|
|
[(ii)] the executing law enforcement agency |
|
failed to request the fee within the period required by Paragraph |
|
(A) [of this subdivision]; |
|
(3) $5 for summoning a witness; |
|
(4) $35 for serving a writ not otherwise listed in this |
|
article; |
|
(5) $10 for taking and approving a bond and, if |
|
necessary, returning the bond to the courthouse; |
|
(6) $5 for commitment or release; |
|
(7) $5 for summoning a jury, if a jury is summoned; and |
|
(8) $8 for each day's attendance of a prisoner in a |
|
habeas corpus case if the prisoner has been remanded to custody or |
|
held to bail. |
|
(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a [A] fee under |
|
Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) [of this article] shall be assessed: |
|
(1) on conviction, regardless of whether the defendant |
|
was also arrested at the same time for another offense;[,] and |
|
(2) [shall be assessed] for each arrest made of a |
|
defendant arising out of the offense for which the defendant has |
|
been convicted. |
|
(f) A fee under Subsection (a)(2) may be assessed only once |
|
for an arrest, regardless of whether more than one arrest warrant, |
|
capias, or capias pro fine is executed during the arrest. |
|
SECTION 11. Section 102.021, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 102.021. COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION: CODE OF CRIMINAL |
|
PROCEDURE. A person convicted of an offense shall pay the following |
|
under the Code of Criminal Procedure, in addition to all other |
|
costs: |
|
(1) court cost on conviction of any offense, other |
|
than a conviction of an offense relating to a pedestrian or the |
|
parking of a motor vehicle (Art. 102.0045, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure) . . . $4; |
|
(2) a fee for services of prosecutor (Art. 102.008, |
|
Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25; |
|
(3) fees for services of peace officer: |
|
(A) issuing a written notice to appear in court |
|
for certain violations (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) |
|
. . . $5; |
|
(B) executing [or processing] an issued arrest |
|
warrant, capias, or capias pro fine (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure) . . . $50; |
|
(C) summoning a witness (Art. 102.011, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $5; |
|
(D) serving a writ not otherwise listed (Art. |
|
102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $35; |
|
(E) taking and approving a bond and, if |
|
necessary, returning the bond to courthouse (Art. 102.011, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $10; |
|
(F) commitment or release (Art. 102.011, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $5; |
|
(G) summoning a jury (Art. 102.011, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $5; |
|
(H) attendance of a prisoner in habeas corpus |
|
case if prisoner has been remanded to custody or held to bail (Art. |
|
102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $8 each day; |
|
(I) mileage for certain services performed (Art. |
|
102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.29 per mile; and |
|
(J) services of a sheriff or constable who serves |
|
process and attends examining trial in certain cases (Art. 102.011, |
|
Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5; |
|
(4) services of a peace officer in conveying a witness |
|
outside the county (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . |
|
$10 per day or part of a day, plus actual necessary travel expenses; |
|
(5) overtime of peace officer for time spent |
|
testifying in the trial or traveling to or from testifying in the |
|
trial (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . actual cost; |
|
(6) court costs on an offense relating to rules of the |
|
road, when offense occurs within a school crossing zone (Art. |
|
102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25; |
|
(7) court costs on an offense of passing a school bus |
|
(Art. 102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25; |
|
(8) court costs on an offense of parent contributing |
|
to student nonattendance (Art. 102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure) |
|
. . . $20; |
|
(9) cost for visual recording of intoxication arrest |
|
before conviction (Art. 102.018, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . |
|
$15; |
|
(10) cost of certain evaluations (Art. 102.018, Code |
|
of Criminal Procedure) . . . actual cost; |
|
(11) additional costs attendant to certain |
|
intoxication convictions under Chapter 49, Penal Code, for |
|
emergency medical services, trauma facilities, and trauma care |
|
systems (Art. 102.0185, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $100; |
|
(12) additional costs attendant to certain child |
|
sexual assault and related convictions, for child abuse prevention |
|
programs (Art. 102.0186, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $100; |
|
(13) court cost for DNA testing for certain felonies |
|
(Art. 102.020(a)(1), Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $250; |
|
(14) court cost for DNA testing for certain |
|
misdemeanors and felonies (Art. 102.020(a)(2), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure) . . . $50; |
|
(15) court cost for DNA testing for certain felonies |
|
(Art. 102.020(a)(3), Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $34; |
|
(16) if required by the court, a restitution fee for |
|
costs incurred in collecting restitution installments and for the |
|
compensation to victims of crime fund (Art. 42.037, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $12; |
|
(17) if directed by the justice of the peace or |
|
municipal court judge hearing the case, court costs on conviction |
|
in a criminal action (Art. 45.041, Code of Criminal Procedure) |
|
. . . part or all of the costs as directed by the judge; and |
|
(18) costs attendant to convictions under Chapter 49, |
|
Penal Code, and under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, to help |
|
fund drug court programs established under Chapter 122, 123, 124, |
|
or 125, Government Code, or former law (Art. 102.0178, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure) . . . $60. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 102.0212, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 102.0212. COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION: LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
|
CODE. A person convicted of an offense shall pay the following |
|
under the Local Government Code, in addition to all other costs: |
|
(1) court costs on conviction of a felony (Sec. |
|
133.102, Local Government Code) . . . $133; |
|
(2) court costs on conviction of a Class A or Class B |
|
misdemeanor (Sec. 133.102, Local Government Code) . . . $83; |
|
(3) court costs on conviction of a nonjailable |
|
misdemeanor offense, including a criminal violation of a municipal |
|
ordinance, other than a conviction of an offense relating to a |
|
pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle (Sec. 133.102, Local |
|
Government Code) . . . $40; |
|
(4) [a time payment fee if convicted of a felony or
|
|
misdemeanor for paying any part of a fine, court costs, or
|
|
restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a
|
|
judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution
|
|
(Sec. 133.103, Local Government Code) .
.
. $25;
|
|
[(5)] a cost on conviction of any offense, other than |
|
an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor |
|
vehicle (Sec. 133.105, Local Government Code) . . . $6; and |
|
(5) [(6)] a cost on conviction of any offense, other |
|
than an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor |
|
vehicle (Sec. 133.107, Local Government Code) . . . $2. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 103.0213, Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 103.0213. ADDITIONAL FEES AND COSTS IN CRIMINAL OR |
|
CIVIL CASES: TRANSPORTATION CODE. An accused or defendant, or a |
|
party to a civil suit, as applicable, shall pay the following fees |
|
and costs under the Transportation Code if ordered by the court or |
|
otherwise required: |
|
(1) administrative fee on dismissal of charge of |
|
driving with an expired motor vehicle registration (Sec. 502.407, |
|
Transportation Code) . . . not to exceed $20; |
|
(2) administrative fee on dismissal of charge of |
|
driving with an expired driver's license (Sec. 521.026, |
|
Transportation Code) . . . not to exceed $20; |
|
(2-a) administrative fee on remediation of charge of |
|
operation of a vehicle without a registration insignia (Sec. |
|
502.473, Transportation Code) . . . not to exceed $10; |
|
(3) administrative fee on remediation of charge of |
|
operating a vehicle without complying with inspection requirements |
|
as certified (Sec. 548.605, Transportation Code) . . . not to |
|
exceed $20; |
|
(4) administrative fee for failure to appear for a |
|
complaint or citation on certain offenses (Sec. 706.006, |
|
Transportation Code) . . . $30 [for each violation]; and |
|
(5) administrative fee for failure to pay or satisfy |
|
certain judgments (Sec. 706.006, Transportation Code) . . . $30. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 133.003, Local Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 133.003. CRIMINAL FEES. This chapter applies to the |
|
following criminal fees: |
|
(1) the consolidated fee imposed under Section |
|
133.102; |
|
(2) [the time payment fee imposed under Section
|
|
133.103;
|
|
[(3)] fees for services of peace officers employed by |
|
the state imposed under Article 102.011, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, and forwarded to the comptroller as provided by Section |
|
133.104; |
|
(3) [(4)] costs on conviction imposed in certain |
|
statutory county courts under Section 51.702, Government Code, and |
|
deposited in the judicial fund; |
|
(4) [(5)] costs on conviction imposed in certain |
|
county courts under Section 51.703, Government Code, and deposited |
|
in the judicial fund; |
|
(5) [(6)] the administrative fee for failure to appear |
|
or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment imposed under Section |
|
706.006, Transportation Code; |
|
(6) [(7)] fines on conviction imposed under Section |
|
621.506(g), Transportation Code; |
|
(7) [(8)] the fee imposed under Article 102.0045, Code |
|
of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(8) [(9)] the cost on conviction imposed under Section |
|
133.105 and deposited in the judicial fund; and |
|
(9) [(10)] the cost on conviction imposed under |
|
Section 133.107. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 502.010, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (f-2), |
|
(i), and (j) to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A] |
|
county assessor-collector or the department may refuse to register |
|
a motor vehicle if the assessor-collector or the department |
|
receives information that the owner of the vehicle: |
|
(1) owes the county money for a fine, fee, or tax that |
|
is past due; or |
|
(2) failed to appear in connection with a complaint, |
|
citation, information, or indictment in a court in the county in |
|
which a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner. |
|
(f-2) On payment or other means of discharge of a past due |
|
fine or fee that was imposed for a criminal offense, payment of the |
|
additional fee under Subsection (f)(1) may be waived by the county |
|
in which the fine or fee was owed or the court having jurisdiction |
|
over the offense. |
|
(i) If the court having jurisdiction over an offense for |
|
which a fine or fee was imposed makes a finding that the defendant |
|
is indigent, has insufficient resources or income to pay the fine or |
|
fee, or is otherwise unable to pay the fine or fee: |
|
(1) the court shall notify the county |
|
assessor-collector of the county in which the defendant intends to |
|
register the motor vehicle and the department of the finding; |
|
(2) a county assessor-collector or the department may |
|
not refuse to register the defendant's motor vehicle under this |
|
section; and |
|
(3) a county may not impose an additional fee on the |
|
defendant under Subsection (f). |
|
(j) For purposes of Subsection (i), a court: |
|
(1) shall presume that a defendant is indigent, has |
|
insufficient resources or income to pay the fine or fee, or is |
|
otherwise unable to pay a fine or fee if the defendant is: |
|
(A) paying an existing fine or fee in specified |
|
portions at designated intervals; or |
|
(B) performing community service in lieu of |
|
payment; and |
|
(2) may find a defendant to be indigent, to have |
|
insufficient resources or income to pay a fine or fee, or to |
|
otherwise be unable to pay a fine or fee after considering any |
|
information that the court considers appropriate. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 502.010(f), Transportation Code, as |
|
amended by Chapters 1094 (S.B. 1386) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of |
|
the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(f) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A] |
|
county that has a contract under Subsection (b) may impose an |
|
additional fee of $20 to: |
|
(1) a person who fails to pay a fine, fee, or tax to the |
|
county by the date on which the fine, fee, or tax is due; or |
|
(2) a person who fails to appear in connection with a |
|
complaint, citation, information, or indictment in a court in which |
|
a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner. [The
|
|
additional fee may be used only to reimburse the department or the
|
|
county for its expenses for providing services under the contract.] |
|
SECTION 17. Section 521.242(a), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person whose license has been suspended for a cause |
|
other than a physical or mental disability or impairment or a |
|
conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code, |
|
may apply for an occupational license by filing a verified petition |
|
with the clerk of a municipal, justice, county, or district court |
|
with jurisdiction that includes the precinct or county in which: |
|
(1) the person resides; or |
|
(2) the offense occurred for which the license was |
|
suspended. |
|
SECTION 18. Chapter 706, Transportation Code, is amended by |
|
adding Section 706.0011 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 706.0011. FINDING BY COURT OF INABILITY TO PAY. (a) |
|
If the court having jurisdiction over an offense for which a fine |
|
and cost were imposed makes a finding that the defendant is |
|
indigent, has insufficient resources or income to pay the fine and |
|
cost, or is otherwise unable to pay the fine and cost: |
|
(1) the court shall notify the political subdivision |
|
in which the court is located and the department of the finding; |
|
(2) the department may not deny renewal of the |
|
defendant's license under this chapter; and |
|
(3) an administrative fee may not be imposed on the |
|
defendant under Section 706.006. |
|
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), a court: |
|
(1) shall presume that a defendant is indigent, has |
|
insufficient resources or income to pay a fine and cost, or is |
|
otherwise unable to pay a fine and cost if the defendant is: |
|
(A) paying an existing fine or cost in specified |
|
portions at designated intervals; or |
|
(B) performing community service in lieu of |
|
payment; and |
|
(2) may find a defendant to be indigent, to have |
|
insufficient resources or income to pay a fine and cost, or to be |
|
otherwise unable to pay a fine and cost after considering any |
|
information that the court considers appropriate. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 706.005, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 706.005. CLEARANCE NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT. (a) A |
|
political subdivision shall immediately notify the department that |
|
there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person's driver's |
|
license based on the person's previous failure to appear or failure |
|
to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost |
|
in the manner ordered by the court in a matter involving an offense |
|
described by Section 706.002(a), on payment of a fee as provided by |
|
Section 706.006 and: |
|
(1) the perfection of an appeal of the case for which |
|
the warrant of arrest was issued or judgment arose; |
|
(2) [the dismissal of the charge for which the warrant
|
|
of arrest was issued or judgment arose;
|
|
[(3)] the posting of bond or the giving of other |
|
security to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued; |
|
(3) [(4)] the payment or discharge of the fine and |
|
cost owed on an outstanding judgment of the court; or |
|
(4) [(5)] other suitable arrangement to pay the fine |
|
and cost within the court's discretion. |
|
(b) The department may not continue to deny the renewal of |
|
the person's driver's license under this chapter after the |
|
department receives notice: |
|
(1) under Subsection (a); |
|
(2) that the person was acquitted of the charge on |
|
which the person failed to appear; |
|
(3) that the charge on which the person failed to |
|
appear was dismissed; or |
|
(4) [(3)] from the political subdivision that the |
|
failure to appear report or court order to pay a fine or cost |
|
relating to the person: |
|
(A) was sent to the department in error; or |
|
(B) has been destroyed in accordance with the |
|
political subdivision's records retention policy. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 706.006, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection |
|
(d) to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] person who |
|
fails to appear for a complaint or citation for an offense described |
|
by Section 706.002(a) shall be required to pay an administrative |
|
fee of $30 for all complaints or citations that are issued for |
|
offenses arising from the same criminal episode and are [each
|
|
complaint or citation] reported to the department under this |
|
chapter, unless the person is acquitted of the charges for which the |
|
person failed to appear or those charges are dismissed. The person |
|
shall pay the fee when: |
|
(1) the court enters judgment on the underlying |
|
offense reported to the department; or |
|
(2) [the underlying offense is dismissed; or
|
|
[(3)] bond or other security is posted to reinstate |
|
the charge for which the warrant was issued. |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] person who |
|
fails to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine |
|
and cost in the manner the court orders shall be required to pay an |
|
administrative fee of $30. |
|
(d) A municipal court judge or justice of the peace who has |
|
jurisdiction over the underlying offense may waive an |
|
administrative fee required by this section. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 708.158, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
(c) Not later than the fifth day after the date the court |
|
receives information described by Subsection (b) establishing that |
|
a person is indigent, the court shall notify the department that the |
|
person is indigent for the purposes of this chapter. |
|
SECTION 22. Section 133.103, Local Government Code, is |
|
repealed. |
|
SECTION 23. The changes in law made by this Act to Article |
|
14.06, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Section 502.010 and Chapter |
|
706, Transportation Code, apply only to an offense committed on or |
|
after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before |
|
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
|
the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued |
|
in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an |
|
offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any |
|
element of the offense occurred before that date. |
|
SECTION 24. The changes in law made by this Act to Articles |
|
45.014, 45.023, 45.041, 45.046, 45.049, and 45.0491, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, apply to a sentencing proceeding that commences |
|
before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
SECTION 25. The change in law made by this Act to Article |
|
45.045, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to a capias pro |
|
fine issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A capias pro |
|
fine issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
|
law in effect on the date the capias pro fine was issued, and the |
|
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 26. The change in law made by this Act to Article |
|
45.048, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies to a defendant who is |
|
placed in jail on or after the effective date of this Act for |
|
failure to pay the fine and costs imposed on conviction of an |
|
offense, regardless of whether the offense of which the defendant |
|
was convicted was committed before, on, or after the effective date |
|
of this Act. |
|
SECTION 27. The changes in law made by this Act to Article |
|
102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Section 102.021, |
|
Government Code, apply only to a fee imposed for an arrest warrant, |
|
capias, or capias pro fine issued on or after the effective date of |
|
this Act. A fee imposed for an arrest warrant, capias, or capias |
|
pro fine issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
|
the law in effect on the date the arrest warrant, capias, or capias |
|
pro fine was issued, and the former law is continued in effect for |
|
that purpose. |
|
SECTION 28. The repeal by this Act of Section 133.103, Local |
|
Government Code, does not apply to an offense committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the |
|
effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed on |
|
the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued |
|
in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an |
|
offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any |
|
element of the offense occurred before that date. |
|
SECTION 29. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |