|
House Bill 1544 |
House Author: Miklos |
|
Effective: 9-1-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Carona |
House Bill 1544 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a court to dispose of the case, without requiring a court appearance, of a defendant who is charged with a misdemeanor punishable by fine only and who mails or delivers in person to the court a plea of "guilty" or "nolo contendere" and a waiver of jury trial, if the court receives the plea and waiver after the time the defendant is scheduled to appear in court but at least five business days before a scheduled trial date. The bill authorizes a judge who defers further proceedings and places on probation a defendant found guilty of such a misdemeanor to impose a special expense fee on the defendant in an amount not to exceed the amount of the fine that could be imposed on the defendant as punishment for the offense. The bill sets forth provisions relating to the collection and payment of the fee and removes a provision authorizing the imposition of a special expense if a complaint is dismissed after the deferral period.