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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the maintenance of information entered into a fee |
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record. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 103, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 103.0081 to read as follows: |
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Art. 103.0081. UNCOLLECTIBLE FEES. (a) Any officer |
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authorized by this chapter to collect a fee or item of cost may |
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request the trial court in which a criminal action or proceeding was |
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held to make a finding that a fee or item of cost imposed in the |
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action or proceeding is uncollectible if the officer believes: |
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(1) the defendant is deceased; |
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(2) the defendant is serving a sentence for |
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imprisonment for life or life without parole; or |
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(3) the fee has been unpaid for at least 10 years. |
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(b) On a finding by a court that any condition described by |
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Subsections (a)(1)-(3) is true, the court may order the officer to |
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designate the fee or item of cost as uncollectible in the fee |
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record. The officer shall attach a copy of the court's order to the |
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fee record. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.609 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.609. UNCOLLECTIBLE FEES. (a) The clerk may request |
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the court in which a court cost or fee was imposed on a party in a |
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civil case to make a finding that the cost or fee is uncollectible |
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if the cost or fee has been unpaid for at least 20 years. |
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(b) On a finding by a court that a court cost or fee imposed |
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on a party in a civil case is uncollectible, the court may order the |
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clerk to designate the cost or fee as uncollectible in the fee |
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record. The clerk shall attach a copy of the court's order to the |
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fee record. |
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(c) This section does not apply to a court cost or fee |
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imposed by the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, or a |
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court of appeals. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |