By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1637

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administrative, civil, and criminal consequences, including fines, fees, and costs, imposed on persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of certain criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 1.053 to read as follows:

Art. 1.053. PRESENT ABILITY TO PAY. Except as otherwise specifically provided, in determining a defendant's ability to pay for any purpose, the court shall consider only the defendant's present ability to pay.

SECTION 2. Article 15.17(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(b) After an accused charged with a misdemeanor punishable by fine only is taken before a magistrate under Subsection (a) and the magistrate has identified the accused with certainty, the magistrate may require the accused to give a bond under Article 45.016 or release the accused without bond and order the accused to appear at a later date for arraignment in the applicable justice court or municipal court. The order must state in writing the time, date, and place of the arraignment, and the magistrate must sign the order. The accused shall receive a copy of the order on release. [If an accused fails to appear as required by the order, the judge of the court in which the accused is required to appear shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused. If the accused is arrested and brought before the judge, the judge may admit the accused to bail, and in admitting the accused to bail, the judge should set as the amount of bail an amount double that generally set for the offense for which the accused was arrested. This subsection does not apply to an accused who has previously been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor other than a misdemeanor punishable by fine only.]

SECTION 3. Chapter 43, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 43.035 to read as follows:

Art. 43.035. RECONSIDERATION OF FINE OR COSTS. (a) If a defendant notifies the court that the defendant has difficulty paying the fine and costs in compliance with the judgment, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), a defendant may notify the court by:

(1) voluntarily appearing and informing the court or the clerk of the court, after which the clerk of the court may require the defendant to follow any methods established under subsection (4);

(2) filing a motion with the court;

(3) mailing a letter to the court; or

(4) any other method established by the court for that purpose.

(c) If the court determines at the hearing under Subsection (a) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant, the court shall consider whether the fine and costs should be satisfied through one or more methods listed under Article 42.15(a-1).

(d) The court may decline to hold a hearing under Subsection (a) if the court:

(1) previously held a hearing under that subsection with respect to the case and the court is able to determine without holding a hearing that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant; or

(2) is able to determine without holding a hearing that the judgment does impose an undue hardship on the defendant and that the fines and costs should be satisfied through one or more methods listed under Article 42.15(a-1).

(e) The court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of making a determination under this article.

SECTION 4. The heading to Article 43.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

Art. 43.05. ISSUANCE AND RECALL OF CAPIAS PRO FINE [SHALL RECITE].

SECTION 5. Article 43.05(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) A court may not issue a capias pro fine for the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms unless the court holds a hearing to determine whether the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant [on the defendant's ability to satisfy the judgment] and the defendant fails to:

(1) [the defendant fails to] appear at the hearing; or

(2) comply with an order under Subsection (a-4) [based on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the capias pro fine should be issued].

SECTION 6. Article 43.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (a-2) and adding Subsections (a-3) and (a-4) to read as follows:

(a-2) The court shall recall a capias pro fine if, before the capias pro fine is executed:

(1) the defendant provides notice to the court under Article 43.035 and a hearing is set under that article [voluntarily appears to resolve the amount owed]; or [and]

(2) the amount owed is resolved in any manner authorized by this code the defendant voluntarily appears and makes a good faith effort to resolve the capias pro fine.

(a-3) If the court determines at the hearing under Subsection (a-1) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant, the court shall determine whether the fine and costs should be satisfied through one or more methods listed under Article 42.15(a-1). The court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of making a determination under this subsection.

(a-4) If the court determines at the hearing under Subsection (a-1) that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the court shall order the defendant to comply with the judgment not later than the 30th day after the date the determination is made.

SECTION 7. Article 43.09(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(f) A court may require a defendant who is unable to pay a fine or costs to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by performing community service. A judge or justice shall allow a defendant to perform community service required under this subsection in the county in which the defendant resides.

SECTION 8. Article 43.091, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

Art. 43.091. WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS AND FOR CHILDREN. (a) A court may waive payment of all or part of a fine and costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:

(1) the defendant is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine and costs or was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h); and

(2) each alternative method of discharging the fine and cost under Article 43.09 or 42.15 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant.

(b) A determination of undue hardship made under Subsection (a)(2) is in the court's discretion. In making that determination, the court may consider, as applicable, the defendant's:

(1) significant physical or mental impairment or disability;

(2) pregnancy and childbirth;

(3) substantial family commitments or responsibilities, including child or dependent care;

(4) work responsibilities and hours;

(5) transportation limitations;

(6) homelessness or housing insecurity; and

(7) any other factor the court determines relevant.

(c) The court may waive payment of all or part of the costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:

(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the costs; or

(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h).

(c) The court may waive payment of all or part of the costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:

(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the costs; or

(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h).

SECTION 9. Subchapter B, Chapter 45, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Articles 45.0201 and 45.0445 to read as follows:

Art. 45.0201. APPEARANCE BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE. If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45.0445 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.

SECTION 10. Chapter 45, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 45.0445 to read as follows:

Art. 45.0445. RECONSIDERATION OF FINE OR COSTS. (a) If the defendant notifies the justice or judge that the defendant has difficulty paying the fine and costs in compliance with the judgment, the justice or judge shall hold a hearing to determine whether the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), a defendant may notify the justice or judge by:

(1) voluntarily appearing and informing the justice or judge or the clerk of the court;

(2) filing a motion with the justice or judge;

(3) mailing a letter to the justice or judge; or

(4) any other method established by the justice or judge for that purpose.

(c) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing under Subsection (a) that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge shall consider whether to allow the defendant to satisfy the fine and costs through one or more methods listed under Article 45.041(a-1).

(d) The justice or judge may decline to hold a hearing under Subsection (a) if the justice or judge:

(1) previously held a hearing under that subsection with respect to the case and is able to determine without holding a hearing that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant; or

(2) is able to determine without holding a hearing that the fine and costs should be waived in full or in part under Article 45.0491.

(e) The justice or judge retains jurisdiction for the purpose of making a determination under this article.

SECTION 11. Article 45.045(a-2), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows:

(a-2) The court may not issue a capias pro fine for the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms unless the court holds a hearing to determine whether the defendant is able to comply with the judgment without an undue hardship [on the defendant's ability to satisfy the judgment] and the defendant fails to:

(1) [the defendant fails to] appear at the hearing; or

(2) comply with an order under Subsection (a-5) [based on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the capias pro fine should be issued].

SECTION 12. Article 45.045, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (a-3) and adding Subsections (a-4) and (a-5) to read as follows:

(a-3) The court shall recall a capias pro fine if, before the capias pro fine is executed:

(1) the defendant provides notice to the justice or judge under Article 45.0445 and a hearing is set under that article [voluntarily appears to resolve the amount owed]; or [and]

(2) the amount owed is resolved in any manner authorized by this chapter the defendant voluntarily appears and makes a good faith effort to resolve the capias pro fine.

(a-4) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing under Subsection (a-2) that the judgment imposes an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge shall determine whether the fine and costs should be satisfied through one or more methods listed under Article 45.041(a-1). The justice or judge retains jurisdiction for the purpose of making a determination under this subsection.

(a-5) If the justice or judge determines at the hearing under Subsection (a-2) that the judgment does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge shall order the defendant to comply with the judgment not later than the 30th day after the date the determination is made.

SECTION 13. Article 45.049, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) A judge or justice shall allow a defendant to perform community service required under this article in the county in which the defendant resides.

SECTION 14. Article 45.0491, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

Art. 45.0491. WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS AND FOR CHILDREN. (a) A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a court of record, or a justice court may waive payment of all or part of a fine and costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:

(1) the defendant is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine and costs or was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h); and

(2) discharging the fine and costs under Article 45.049 or as otherwise authorized by this chapter would impose an undue hardship on the defendant.

(b) A defendant is presumed to be indigent or to not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine and costs if the defendant:

(1) is in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, or was in the conservatorship of that department at the time of the offense; or

(2) is designated as a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth, as those terms are defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a, or was so designated at the time of the offense.

(c) A determination of undue hardship made under Subsection (a)(2) is in the court's discretion. In making that determination, the court may consider, as applicable, the defendant's:

(1) significant physical or mental impairment or disability;

(2) pregnancy and childbirth;

(3) substantial family commitments or responsibilities, including child or dependent care;

(4) work responsibilities and hours;

(5) transportation limitations;

(6) homelessness or housing insecurity; and

(7) any other factors the court determines relevant.

(d) A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a court of record, or a justice court may waive payment of all or part of costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:

(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the costs; or

(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h).

(c) The court may waive payment of all or part of the costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:

(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the costs; or

(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h).

SECTION 15. Article 45.051(a-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by Chapters 227 (H.B. 350) and 777 (H.B. 1964), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as an alternative to requiring a defendant charged with one or more offenses to make payment of all court costs as required by Subsection (a), the judge may:

(1) allow the defendant to enter into an agreement for payment of those costs in installments during the defendant's period of probation;

(2) require an eligible defendant to discharge all or part of those costs by performing community service or attending a tutoring program under Article 45.049 or 45.0492; [or]

(3) waive all or part of the court costs under Article 45.0491(d); or

(4) take any combination of actions authorized by Subdivision (1), [or] (2), or (3).

SECTION 16. Section 702.003, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsections (b-1), (g), and (h) and amending Subsections (c) and (e-1) to read as follows:

(b-1) Information that is provided to make a determination under Subsection (a) and that concerns an outstanding warrant from the municipality for failure to pay a fine expires on the second anniversary of the date the information was provided and may not be used to refuse registration after that date. Once information about an outstanding warrant for failure to pay a fine is provided under Subsection (b), subsequent information about other warrants for failure to pay a fine that are issued before the second anniversary of the date the initial information was provided may not be used, either before or after the second anniversary of that date, to refuse registration under this section unless the motor vehicle is no longer subject to refusal of registration because of notice received under Subsection (c).

(c) A municipality that has a contract under Subsection (b) shall notify the county assessor-collector or the department regarding a person for whom the county assessor-collector or the department has refused to register a motor vehicle on:

(1) entry of a judgment against the person and the person's payment to the court or other means of discharge, including a waiver, of the fine for the violation and of all court costs;

(2) perfection of an appeal of the case for which the arrest warrant was issued; or

(3) dismissal of the charge for which the arrest warrant was issued.

(e-1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A] municipality that has a contract under Subsection (b) may impose an additional $20 fee to a person who has an outstanding warrant from the municipality for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine on a complaint that involves the violation of a traffic law. The additional fee may be used only to reimburse the department or the county assessor-collector for its expenses for providing services under the contract, or another county department for expenses related to services under the contract.

(g) A municipal court judge or justice of the peace who has jurisdiction over the underlying offense may waive an additional fee imposed under Subsection (e-1) if the judge or justice makes a finding that the defendant is economically unable to pay the fee or that good cause exists for the waiver.

(h) If a municipality is notified that the court having jurisdiction over the underlying offense has waived the fine that is the subject of the warrant due to the defendant's indigency, the municipality may not impose an additional fee on the defendant under Subsection (e-1).

SECTION 17. The following provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure are repealed:

(1) Article 42.15(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B. 351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017;

(2) Article 43.05(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B. 351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017;

(3) Article 45.041(a-1), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B. 351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017; and

(4) Article 45.045(a-2), as added by Chapter 977 (H.B. 351), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

SECTION 18. Notwithstanding Section 32, Chapter 977 (H.B. 351), and Section 28, Chapter 1127 (S.B. 1913), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, Section 706.006, Transportation Code, as amended by those Acts, applies to any fee assessed on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense, complaint, citation, or other violation giving rise to the fee occurred before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 19. Articles 1.053 and 45.0201, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, apply to a proceeding that commences before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 20. The changes in law made by this Act to Article 15.17, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Section 702.003, Transportation Code, apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 21. Articles 43.035 and 45.0445, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, apply to a notification received by a court on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the judgment of conviction was entered before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 22. The changes in law made by this Act to Articles 43.09, 43.091, 45.049, 45.0491, and 45.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply to a sentencing proceeding that commences before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 23. The change in law made by this Act to Articles 43.05 and 45.045, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to a capias pro fine issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A capias pro fine issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the capias pro fine was issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 24. The change in law made by this Act to Article 45.014, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies to a voluntary court appearance that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 25. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.