81R923 PEP-D
By: Pitts H.B. No. 228
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a defendant's payment of the costs of legal services
provided by court-appointed counsel in a criminal case.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 26.05(g), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(g) If the court determines that a defendant has financial
resources that enable him to offset in part or in whole the costs of
the legal services provided, including any expenses and costs, the
court shall order the defendant to pay [during the pendency of the
charges or, if convicted, as court costs] the amount that it finds
the defendant is able to pay.
SECTION 2. This Act applies to a criminal proceeding that
commences on or after the effective date of this Act. A criminal
proceeding that commenced before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect at the time the proceeding commenced,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.