By: West S.B. No. 740
(Canales)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the assessment of court costs and fees on conviction of
multiple offenses or on conviction of multiple counts of the same
offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 102, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by adding Article 102.073 to read as follows:
Art. 102.073. ASSESSMENT OF COURT COSTS AND FEES IN A SINGLE
CRIMINAL ACTION. (a) In a single criminal action in which a
defendant is convicted of two or more offenses or of multiple counts
of the same offense, the court may assess each court cost or fee
only once against the defendant.
(b) In a criminal action described by Subsection (a), each
court cost or fee the amount of which is determined according to the
category of offense must be assessed using the highest category of
offense that is possible based on the defendant's convictions.
(c) This article does not apply to a single criminal action
alleging only the commission of two or more offenses punishable by
fine only for which a citation or notice to appear was issued in
accordance with Article 14.06(b) of this code or Section 543.004,
Transportation Code, as applicable.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
court cost or fee imposed on or after the effective date of this
Act, regardless of whether the offense for which the cost or fee was
imposed was committed before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.