BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                C.S.H.B. 666

81R33898 GCB-D                                                                                  By: Gutierrez et al. (Uresti)

                                                                                                                                   Criminal Justice

                                                                                                                                            5/20/2009

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law provides for a court cost of $50 on the conviction of certain intoxication and drug offenses punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or higher.  C.S.H.B. 666 increases the court cost to $60 and imposes the court cost on any conviction of an offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or higher under certain provisions of the Penal Code and the Texas Controlled Substances Act to help fund drug court programs.

 

C.S.H.B. 666 amends current law relating to certain costs used to fund drug court programs.

 

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 Article 102.0178(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, to require a person, in addition to other costs on conviction imposed by this chapter, to pay $60, rather than $50, as a court cost on conviction of an offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or any higher category of offense under Chapter 49 (Intoxication and Alcoholic Beverage Offenses), Penal Code or Chapter 481 (Texas Controlled Substances Act), Health and Safety Code.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 102.021, Government Code, to conform to Chapter 1263 (H.B. 3060), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, and further amends it to require a person convicted of an offense to pay under the Code of Criminal Procedure, in addition to all other costs, fees for services of peace officer executing or processing an issued arrest warrant, capias, or capias pro fine (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure)… $50; and costs attendant to convictions under Chapter 49, Penal Code, and under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, to help fund drug court programs established under Chapter 469 (Drug Court Programs), Health and Safety Code (Art. 102.0178, Code of Criminal Procedure)…$60.  Makes nonsubstantive changes.  

 

(b) Repealer: Section 102.0215 (Additional Court Costs on Conviction: Code of Criminal Procedure), Government Code.

 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2009.