86R1706 JCG-D
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 1319
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a procedure in a justice or municipal court for
  rendering certain judgments and sentences.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 45.041, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)(1)  This subsection applies only to a criminal action in
  which the defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a
  misdemeanor case punishable by fine only.
               (2)  A criminal action described by Subdivision (1) is
  considered adjudicated for purposes of appeal and the judgment and
  sentence in the action is considered rendered if:
                     (A)  the defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo
  contendere and pays the amount of the fine and costs owed to the
  state;
                     (B)  the court finds the defendant guilty and
  accepts the defendant's payment as payment in full for the amount
  owed; and
                     (C)  the court creates a record of the acceptance
  of the court's finding and the defendant's plea and payment,
  regardless of the form of the record or whether the record contains
  the justice's or judge's signature.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  Article 45.041(e), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, as added by this Act, applies to a criminal action
  commenced in a justice or municipal court before, on, or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         (b)  The addition by this Act of Article 45.041(e), Code of
  Criminal Procedure, is intended to clarify rather than change the
  existing law.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.