85R2046 JRH-D
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 736
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the maintenance of information entered into a fee
  record.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 103, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 103.0081 to read as follows:
         Art. 103.0081.  UNCOLLECTIBLE FEES. (a) Any officer
  authorized by this chapter to collect a fee or item of cost may
  request the trial court in which a criminal action or proceeding was
  held to make a finding that a fee or item of cost imposed in the
  action or proceeding is uncollectible if the officer believes:
               (1)  the defendant is deceased;
               (2)  the defendant is serving a sentence for
  imprisonment for life or life without parole; or
               (3)  the fee has been unpaid for at least 10 years.
         (b)  On a finding by a court that any condition described by
  Subsections (a)(1)-(3) is true, the court may order the officer to
  designate the fee or item of cost as uncollectible in the fee
  record. The officer shall attach a copy of the court's order to the
  fee record.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.609 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.609.  UNCOLLECTIBLE FEES. (a) The clerk may request
  the court in which a court cost or fee was imposed on a party in a
  civil case to make a finding that the cost or fee is uncollectible
  if the cost or fee has been unpaid for at least 20 years.
         (b)  On a finding by a court that a court cost or fee imposed
  on a party in a civil case is uncollectible, the court may order the
  clerk to designate the cost or fee as uncollectible in the fee
  record. The clerk shall attach a copy of the court's order to the
  fee record.
         (c)  This section does not apply to a court cost or fee
  imposed by the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, or a
  court of appeals.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.