SRC-JBJ S.B. 1681 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1681
By: Jackson
Jurisprudence
3/29/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is some confusion regarding the consideration of a payment
for certain tickets as sufficient to indicate a person's intent to enter a
plea of no contest.  As proposed, S.B. 1681 allows for the payment for
certain tickets to be sufficient for a plea of no contest. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.   

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 27.14(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, to provide
that payment of a fine, or an amount accepted by the court, in a
misdemeanor case for which the maximum possible punishment is by fine only,
constitutes a finding of guilty in open court, as though a plea of nolo
contendere had been entered by the defendant and constitutes a waiver of a
jury trial in writing. 

Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.