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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a determination of the amount of a fine imposed in a |
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criminal case. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 42.15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The court, in determining the amount of the fine, may: |
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(1) consider any child support obligation of the |
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defendant; and |
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(2) require the defendant to: |
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(A) identify the court that issued any existing |
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order requiring the defendant to pay child support; and |
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(B) obtain and provide a copy of that order. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a fine imposed on conviction of an offense committed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A fine imposed on conviction of an |
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offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered |
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by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this |
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section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this |
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Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |