86R1538 KJE-F
By: White H.B. No. 465
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. Chapter 1, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 1.053 to read as follows:
Art. 1.053. PRESENT ABILITY TO PAY. Except as otherwise
specifically provided, in determining a defendant's ability to pay
for any purpose, the court shall consider only the defendant's
present ability to pay.
SECTION 2. Article 15.17(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) After an accused charged with a misdemeanor punishable
by fine only is taken before a magistrate under Subsection (a) and
the magistrate has identified the accused with certainty, the
magistrate may require the accused to give a bond under Article
45.016 or release the accused without bond and order the accused to
appear at a later date for arraignment in the applicable justice
court or municipal court. The order must state in writing the time,
date, and place of the arraignment, and the magistrate must sign the
order. The accused shall receive a copy of the order on release.
[If an accused fails to appear as required by the order, the judge
of the court in which the accused is required to appear shall issue
a warrant for the arrest of the accused. If the accused is arrested
and brought before the judge, the judge may admit the accused to
bail, and in admitting the accused to bail, the judge should set as
the amount of bail an amount double that generally set for the
offense for which the accused was arrested. This subsection does
not apply to an accused who has previously been convicted of a
felony or a misdemeanor other than a misdemeanor punishable by fine
only.]
SECTION 3. Chapter 43, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 43.035 to read as follows:
Art. 43.035. RECONSIDERATION OF FINE OR COSTS. (a) If a
defendant notifies the court that the defendant has difficulty
paying the fine and costs in compliance with the judgment, the court
shall hold a hearing to determine whether the judgment imposes an
undue hardship on the defendant.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), a defendant may notify
the court by:
(1) voluntarily appearing and informing the court or
the clerk of the court;
(2) filing a motion with the court;
(3) mailing a letter to the court; or
(4) any other method established by the court for that
purpose.
(c) If the court determines at the hearing under Subsection
(a) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant,
the court shall consider whether the fine and costs should be
satisfied through one or more methods listed under Article
42.15(a-1).
(d) The court may decline to hold a hearing under Subsection
(a) if the court:
(1) previously held a hearing under that subsection
with respect to the case and is able to determine without holding a
hearing that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the
defendant; or
(2) is able to determine without holding a hearing
that the fine and costs should be waived in full or in part under
Article 43.091.
(e) The court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of making
a determination under this article.
SECTION 4. The heading to Article 43.05, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Art. 43.05. ISSUANCE AND RECALL OF CAPIAS PRO FINE [SHALL
RECITE].
SECTION 5. Article 43.05(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure,
as added by Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(a-1) A court may not issue a capias pro fine for the
defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms
unless the court holds a hearing to determine whether the judgment
imposes an undue hardship on the defendant [on the defendant's
ability to satisfy the judgment] and the defendant fails to:
(1) [the defendant fails to] appear at the hearing; or
(2) comply with an order under Subsection (a-4) [based
on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the
capias pro fine should be issued].
SECTION 6. Article 43.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by amending Subsection (a-2) and adding Subsections (a-3)
and (a-4) to read as follows:
(a-2) The court shall recall a capias pro fine if, before
the capias pro fine is executed:
(1) the defendant provides notice to the court under
Article 43.035 and a hearing is set under that article [voluntarily
appears to resolve the amount owed]; or [and]
(2) the amount owed is resolved in any manner
authorized by this code.
(a-3) If the court determines at the hearing under
Subsection (a-1) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the
defendant, the court shall determine whether the fine and costs
should be satisfied through one or more methods listed under
Article 42.15(a-1). The court retains jurisdiction for the purpose
of making a determination under this subsection.
(a-4) If the court determines at the hearing under
Subsection (a-1) that the judgment does not impose an undue
hardship on the defendant, the court shall order the defendant to
comply with the judgment not later than the 30th day after the date
the determination is made.
SECTION 7. Article 43.09(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(f) A court may require a defendant who is unable to pay a
fine or costs to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by
performing community service. A defendant may elect to perform
community service required under this subsection in the county in
which the defendant resides.
SECTION 8. Article 43.091, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 43.091. WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR
CERTAIN DEFENDANTS AND FOR CHILDREN. (a) A court may waive payment
of all or part of a fine [or costs] imposed on a defendant if the
court determines that:
(1) the defendant is indigent or does not have
sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine [or
costs] or was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as
defined by Article 45.058(h); and
(2) each alternative method of discharging the fine
[or cost] under Article 43.09 or 42.15 would impose an undue
hardship on the defendant.
(b) A determination of undue hardship made under Subsection
(a)(2) is in the court's discretion. In making that determination,
the court may consider, as applicable, the defendant's:
(1) significant physical or mental impairment or
disability;
(2) pregnancy and childbirth;
(3) substantial family commitments or
responsibilities, including child or dependent care;
(4) work responsibilities and hours;
(5) transportation limitations;
(6) homelessness or housing insecurity; and
(7) any other factor the court determines relevant.
(c) The court may waive payment of all or part of the costs
imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:
(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources
or income to pay all or part of the costs; or
(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child
as defined by Article 45.058(h).
SECTION 9. Article 45.014, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
(h) A defendant who voluntarily appears before a justice or
judge to resolve an unpaid fine or cost may not be arrested, during
or immediately before or after the defendant's appearance, on a
warrant or capias pro fine issued under this chapter.
SECTION 10. Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by adding Articles 45.0201 and 45.0445 to
read as follows:
Art. 45.0201. APPEARANCE BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE.
If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to
appear before the justice or judge in person would impose an undue
hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge shall allow the
defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.
Art. 45.0445. RECONSIDERATION OF FINE OR COSTS. (a) If the
defendant notifies the justice or judge that the defendant has
difficulty paying the fine and costs in compliance with the
judgment, the justice or judge shall hold a hearing to determine
whether the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), a defendant may notify
the justice or judge by:
(1) voluntarily appearing and informing the justice or
judge or the clerk of the court;
(2) filing a motion with the justice or judge;
(3) mailing a letter to the justice or judge; or
(4) any other method established by the justice or
judge for that purpose.
(c) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing under
Subsection (a) that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship
on the defendant, the justice or judge shall consider whether to
allow the defendant to satisfy the fine and costs through one or
more methods listed under Article 45.041(a-1).
(d) The justice or judge may decline to hold a hearing under
Subsection (a) if the justice or judge:
(1) previously held a hearing under that subsection
with respect to the case and is able to determine without holding a
hearing that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the
defendant; or
(2) is able to determine without holding a hearing
that the fine and costs should be waived in full or in part under
Article 45.0491.
(e) The justice or judge retains jurisdiction for the
purpose of making a determination under this article.
SECTION 11. Article 45.045(a-2), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as added by Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(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 the court holds a hearing to determine whether the defendant
is able to comply with the judgment without an undue hardship [on
the defendant's ability to satisfy the judgment] and the defendant
fails to:
(1) [the defendant fails to] appear at the hearing; or
(2) comply with an order under Subsection (a-5) [based
on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the
capias pro fine should be issued].
SECTION 12. Article 45.045, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by amending Subsection (a-3) and adding Subsections (a-4)
and (a-5) to read as follows:
(a-3) The court shall recall a capias pro fine if, before
the capias pro fine is executed:
(1) the defendant provides notice to the justice or
judge under Article 45.0445 and a hearing is set under that article
[voluntarily appears to resolve the amount owed]; or [and]
(2) the amount owed is resolved in any manner
authorized by this chapter.
(a-4) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing
under Subsection (a-2) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship
on the defendant, the justice or judge shall determine whether the
fine and costs should be satisfied through one or more methods
listed under Article 45.041(a-1). The justice or judge retains
jurisdiction for the purpose of making a determination under this
subsection.
(a-5) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing
under Subsection (a-2) that the judgment does not impose an undue
hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge shall order the
defendant to comply with the judgment not later than the 30th day
after the date the determination is made.
SECTION 13. Article 45.049, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) A defendant may elect to perform community service
required under this article in the county in which the defendant
resides.
SECTION 14. Article 45.0491, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 45.0491. WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR
CERTAIN 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 if the court determines that:
(1) the defendant is indigent or does not have
sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine [or
costs] or was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as
defined by Article 45.058(h); and
(2) discharging the fine [or costs] under Article
45.049 or as otherwise authorized by this chapter would impose an
undue hardship on the defendant.
(b) A defendant is presumed to be indigent or to not have
sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine [or
costs] if the defendant:
(1) is in the conservatorship of the Department of
Family and Protective Services, or was in the conservatorship of
that department at the time of the offense; or
(2) is designated as a homeless child or youth or an
unaccompanied youth, as those terms are defined by 42 U.S.C.
Section 11434a, or was so designated at the time of the offense.
(c) A determination of undue hardship made under Subsection
(a)(2) is in the court's discretion. In making that determination,
the court may consider, as applicable, the defendant's:
(1) significant physical or mental impairment or
disability;
(2) pregnancy and childbirth;
(3) substantial family commitments or
responsibilities, including child or dependent care;
(4) work responsibilities and hours;
(5) transportation limitations;
(6) homelessness or housing insecurity; and
(7) any other factors the court determines relevant.
(d) 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 costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the
defendant:
(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources
or income to pay all or part of the costs; or
(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child
as defined by Article 45.058(h).
SECTION 15. Article 45.051(a-1), Code of Criminal
Procedure, as amended by Chapters 227 (H.B. 350) and 777 (H.B.
1964), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as an
alternative to requiring a defendant charged with one or more
offenses to make payment of all court costs as required by
Subsection (a), the judge may:
(1) allow the defendant to enter into an agreement for
payment of those costs in installments during the defendant's
period of probation;
(2) require an eligible defendant to discharge all or
part of those costs by performing community service or attending a
tutoring program under Article 45.049 or 45.0492; [or]
(3) waive all or part of the court costs under Article
45.0491(d); or
(4) take any combination of actions authorized by
Subdivision (1), [or] (2), or (3).
SECTION 16. Section 702.003, Transportation Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (b-1), (g), and (h) and amending
Subsections (c) and (e-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Information that is provided to make a determination
under Subsection (a) and that concerns an outstanding warrant from
the municipality for failure to pay a fine expires on the second
anniversary of the date the information was provided and may not be
used to refuse registration after that date. Once information
about an outstanding warrant for failure to pay a fine is provided
under Subsection (b), subsequent information about other warrants
for failure to pay a fine that are issued before the second
anniversary of the date the initial information was provided may
not be used, either before or after the second anniversary of that
date, to refuse registration under this section unless the motor
vehicle is no longer subject to refusal of registration because of
notice received under Subsection (c).
(c) A municipality that has a contract under Subsection (b)
shall notify the county assessor-collector or the department
regarding a person for whom the county assessor-collector or the
department has refused to register a motor vehicle on:
(1) entry of a judgment against the person and the
person's payment to the court or other means of discharge,
including a waiver, of the fine for the violation and of all court
costs;
(2) perfection of an appeal of the case for which the
arrest warrant was issued; or
(3) dismissal of the charge for which the arrest
warrant was issued.
(e-1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A]
municipality that has a contract under Subsection (b) may impose an
additional $20 fee to a person who has an outstanding warrant from
the municipality for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine on a
complaint that involves the violation of a traffic law. The
additional fee may be used only to reimburse the department or the
county assessor-collector for its expenses for providing services
under the contract, or another county department for expenses
related to services under the contract.
(g) A municipal court judge or justice of the peace who has
jurisdiction over the underlying offense may waive an additional
fee imposed under Subsection (e-1) if the judge or justice makes a
finding that the defendant is economically unable to pay the fee or
that good cause exists for the waiver.
(h) If a municipality is notified that the court having
jurisdiction over the underlying offense has waived the fine that
is the subject of the warrant due to the defendant's indigency, the
municipality may not impose an additional fee on the defendant
under Subsection (e-1).
SECTION 17. Section 706.005(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(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, other than a dismissal with
prejudice by motion of the appropriate prosecuting attorney for
lack of evidence;
(3) the posting of bond or the giving of other security
to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued;
(4) the payment or discharge of the fine and cost owed
on an outstanding judgment of the court; [or]
(5) if the denial of renewal of the person's driver's
license is based on the person's previous failure to appear, the
person's appearance in court with respect to the underlying offense
before conviction; or
(6) any other [suitable] arrangement to satisfy [pay]
the fine and cost, including through a payment plan or through
community service [within the court's discretion].
SECTION 18. Section 706.006, Transportation Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection
(e) to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) and subject to
Subsection (e), 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 each complaint or
citation reported to the department under this chapter], unless:
(1) the person is acquitted of the charges for which
the person failed to appear;
(2) the charges on which the person failed to appear
were dismissed with prejudice by motion of the appropriate
prosecuting attorney for lack of evidence;
(3) the failure to appear report was sent to the
department in error; or
(4) the case regarding the complaint or citation is
closed and the failure to appear report has been destroyed in
accordance with the applicable political subdivision's records
retention policy.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d) and subject to
Subsection (e), 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.
(e) The department may not require a person to pay more than
one administrative fee for each political subdivision that submits
information to the department under this chapter, regardless of the
number of complaints or citations reported by that political
subdivision or any subsequent reports that are submitted by that
political subdivision during that same period in which the person's
license may not be renewed.
SECTION 19. The following provisions of the Code of
Criminal Procedure are repealed:
(1) Article 42.15(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B.
351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017;
(2) Article 43.05(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B.
351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017;
(3) Article 45.041(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B.
351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017; and
(4) Article 45.045(a-2), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B.
351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.
SECTION 20. Notwithstanding Section 32, Chapter 977 (H.B.
351), and Section 28, Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, Section 706.006,
Transportation Code, as amended by those Acts, applies to any fee
assessed on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
whether the offense, complaint, citation, or other violation giving
rise to the fee occurred before, on, or after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 21. Articles 1.053 and 45.0201, Code of Criminal
Procedure, as added by this Act, apply to a proceeding that
commences before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 22. The changes in law made by this Act to Article
15.17, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Section 702.003,
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 23. Articles 43.035 and 45.0445, Code of Criminal
Procedure, as added by this Act, apply to a notification received by
a court on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
whether the judgment of conviction was entered before, on, or after
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 24. The changes in law made by this Act to Articles
43.09, 43.091, 45.049, 45.0491, and 45.051, 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 Articles
43.05 and 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
45.014, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies to a voluntary court
appearance that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 27. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.