By Dear                                                H.B. No. 251
       74R358 GWK-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the forfeiture of a bond in satisfaction of a fine and
    1-3  costs in certain misdemeanor cases.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subsections (a) and (c), Article 45.231, Code of
    1-6  Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
    1-7        (a)  A justice may enter a judgment of conviction and forfeit
    1-8  a cash bond posted by the defendant in satisfaction of the
    1-9  defendant's fine and cost if the defendant:
   1-10              (1)  has entered a written and signed plea of not
   1-11  guilty <nolo contendere> and a waiver of jury trial; and
   1-12              (2)  fails to appear according to the terms of the
   1-13  defendant's release.
   1-14        (c)  Notwithstanding Article 45.45 of this code, the
   1-15  defendant may apply for a new trial within the period provided by
   1-16  Subsection (b) of this article, and the court shall grant the
   1-17  application if the application is made within the period.  On the
   1-18  new trial, the court shall permit the defendant to withdraw the
   1-19  previously entered plea of not guilty <nolo contendere> and waiver
   1-20  of jury trial.
   1-21        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-22  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-1  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-2  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-3  passage, and it is so enacted.