SRC-JJJ S.B. 229 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 229 By: Ellis Jurisprudence 7/27/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires a $25 time payment fee to be collected from persons convicted in municipal and county criminal courts but who do not pay certain fines immediately. Questions from courts have arisen regarding the application of the fee. S.B. 229 will clarify the method and timeliness involved in the collection of certain fines, court costs, and restitution in criminal cases. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 229 requires the collection of certain fines, court costs, and restitution in criminal cases. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 51.921, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f), to require the clerk of certain courts to collect a $25 fee from a person who seeks to pay any part of a fine, court cost, or restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution. Authorizes the comptroller to audit the records of a county or municipality relating to fees collected under this section. Deletes text regarding a county court at law. Deletes text regarding the payment of certain court costs and for a fee that is in a case the court has deferred over a period of time rather than immediately. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999, except as provided by SECTION 3 of this Act. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in H.B. 1, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.