By Thompson                                            H.B. No. 779
         76R4223 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to discharging certain misdemeanor 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 45.521(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  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 this  article.         
1-10           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to the
1-11     discharge of fines and costs on conviction for community service
1-12     performed on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
1-13     whether the offense for which the defendant was convicted was
1-14     committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-20     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-21     passage, and it is so enacted.