| 12 | | - | SECTION 1. Article 103.0081(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|---|
| 13 | | - | is amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | | - | (a) Any officer authorized by this chapter to collect a fee |
|---|
| 15 | | - | or item of cost may request the trial court in which a criminal |
|---|
| 16 | | - | action or proceeding was held to make a finding that a fee or item of |
|---|
| 17 | | - | cost imposed in the action or proceeding is uncollectible if the |
|---|
| 18 | | - | officer believes: |
|---|
| 19 | | - | (1) the defendant is deceased; |
|---|
| 20 | | - | (2) the defendant is serving a sentence for |
|---|
| 21 | | - | imprisonment for life or life without parole; or |
|---|
| 22 | | - | (3) the fee has been unpaid for at least 10 [15] years. |
|---|
| 23 | | - | SECTION 2. Article 103.0081(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|---|
| 24 | | - | is repealed. |
|---|
| 25 | | - | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|---|
| 10 | + | SECTION 1. Articles 103.0081(b) and (c), Code of Criminal |
|---|
| 11 | + | Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | + | (b) On a finding by a court that any condition described by |
|---|
| 13 | + | Subsections (a)(1)-(3) is true, the court may order the officer to |
|---|
| 14 | + | designate the fee or item of cost as uncollectible in the fee record |
|---|
| 15 | + | and enter an order forgiving the outstanding fee or item of cost and |
|---|
| 16 | + | closing the case. The officer shall attach a copy of the court's |
|---|
| 17 | + | order to the fee record. |
|---|
| 18 | + | (c) The trial court in which a criminal action or proceeding |
|---|
| 19 | + | was held may, on the court's own motion, make the finding described |
|---|
| 20 | + | by Subsection (a) and enter an order forgiving an outstanding fee or |
|---|
| 21 | + | item of cost imposed in the action or proceeding and closing the |
|---|
| 22 | + | case [This article applies only to a county with a population of |
|---|
| 23 | + | more than 780,000 but less than 790,000]. |
|---|
| 24 | + | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|---|