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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a procedure in a justice or municipal court for |
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rendering certain judgments and sentences. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 45.041, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e)(1) This subsection applies only to a criminal action in |
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which the defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a |
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misdemeanor case punishable by fine only. |
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(2) A criminal action described by Subdivision (1) is |
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considered adjudicated for purposes of appeal and the judgment and |
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sentence in the action is considered rendered if: |
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(A) the defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo |
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contendere and pays the amount of the fine and costs owed to the |
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state; |
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(B) the court accepts the defendant's payment as |
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payment in full for the amount owed; and |
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(C) the court creates a record of the acceptance |
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of the defendant's plea and payment, regardless of the form of the |
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record or whether the record contains the justice's or judge's |
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signature. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Article 45.041(e), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, as added by this Act, applies to a criminal action |
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commenced in a justice or municipal court before, on, or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The addition by this Act of Article 45.041(e), Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, is intended to clarify rather than change the |
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existing law. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |