By Thompson H.B. No. 779
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to discharging certain criminal fines and costs by
1-3 performing community service.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 43.09(k), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (k) A defendant is considered to have discharged $100 [$50]
1-8 of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service
1-9 performed under Subsection (f) of this article.
1-10 SECTION 2. Article 45.521(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-11 amended to read as follows:
1-12 (e) A defendant is considered to have discharged $100 [$50]
1-13 of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service
1-14 performed under this article.
1-15 SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to the
1-16 discharge of fines and costs on conviction for community service
1-17 performed on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
1-18 whether the offense for which the defendant was convicted was
1-19 committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
1-20 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-2 passage, and it is so enacted.