By:  Capelo                                                       H.B. No. 3307



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to fees to assist in funding drug court programs.                    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Article 17.42, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 4(a)  If a court releases an accused on personal bond on 
the recommendation of a personal bond office, the court shall 
assess a personal bond fee of $20 or three percent of the amount of 
the bail fixed for the accused, whichever is greater.  In a county 
that has established a drug court program under Chapter 469, 
Government Code, the court shall assess a personal bond fee of $20 
or six percent of the amount of the bail fixed for the accused, 
whichever is greater.  The court may waive the fee or assess a 
lesser fee if good cause is shown.
	(b)(1)  In a county that has not established a drug court 
program, Ffees collected under this article may be used solely to 
defray expenses of the personal bond office, including defraying 
the expenses of extradition.
		(2)  In a county that has established a drug court 
program, one-half of the fees collected under this article shall be 
used to defray expenses of the personal bond office, including 
defraying the cost of extradition, and one-half of the fees 
collected shall be used to defray the expenses of the drug court 
program.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 469, Health and Safety Code, is amended 
by adding a new Sec. 469.008 to read as follows:
	Sec. 469.008.  OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.  In a county that 
establishes a drug court program under this Chapter, the court 
shall assess a personal bond fee of $20 or six percent of the amount 
of the bail fixed for the accused, whichever is greater.  One-half 
of the fees collected shall be used to defray the expenses of the 
drug court program.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to fees collected for the purposes of this Act on or 
after the effective date of this Act.