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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the monetary penalties for Class C misdemeanors and |
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other misdemeanors punishable by a fine only. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) The provisions of Titles 1, 2, and 3 apply to offenses |
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defined by other laws, unless the statute defining the offense |
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provides otherwise; however, the punishment affixed to an offense |
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defined outside this code shall be applicable unless: |
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(1) the punishment is classified in accordance with |
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this code; or |
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(2) the offense is punishable under Section 12.23. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12.23, Penal Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 12.23. CLASS C MISDEMEANOR. Notwithstanding any other |
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law, an [An] individual adjudged guilty of: |
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(1) a Class C misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine |
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of at least $25 but not to exceed $500; and |
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(2) an offense defined outside this code that is |
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punishable by fine only shall be punished by a fine of at least $25 |
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but not to exceed $500, unless the offense is plainly labeled as a |
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Class A or Class B misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |