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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of bail bond costs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 41.258(f), (g), and (i), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(f) A surety paying a cost under Subsection (b) may apply |
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for and is entitled to a refund of 90 percent of the cost not later |
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than the 181st day after the date the state declines to prosecute an |
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individual or the grand jury declines to indict an individual. The |
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remainder of the cost is a nonrefundable administrative cost. |
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(g) The comptroller shall distribute [A county may retain] |
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10 percent of the funds collected under this section to the county |
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treasurers to be used for continuing education for county |
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treasurers. Each county treasurer must receive sufficient funds to |
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meet the minimum continuing education requirements under Section |
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83.003, Local Government Code, before additional funds may be |
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awarded to a county treasurer for education that exceeds the |
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minimum requirement [and may also retain all interest accrued on
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the funds if the custodian of the treasury:
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[(1) keeps records of the amount of funds on deposit;
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and
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[(2) remits the funds to the comptroller as prescribed
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by Subsection (e)]. |
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(i) The comptroller shall deposit 60 percent [two-thirds] |
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of the funds received under this section in the felony prosecutor |
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supplement fund and 30 percent [one-third] of the funds received |
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under this section to the fair defense account. A county may not |
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reduce the amount of funds provided for indigent defense services |
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in the county because of funds provided under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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bail bond cost paid on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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bail bond cost paid before the effective date of this Act is covered |
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by the law in effect on the date the bail bond cost is paid, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007 |
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