Bill Text: TX SB1420 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to court costs and fees in criminal proceedings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Referred to Jurisprudence [SB1420 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB1420-Introduced.html
  83R9181 JSC-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 1420
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to court costs and fees in criminal proceedings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 102, Government Code, is transferred to
  Subtitle B, Title 3, Local Government Code, redesignated as Chapter
  82A, Local Government Code, and amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 82A [102]. COURT COSTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 82A.001 [102.001].  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. [(a)]
  To the extent of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter
  and another state statute, the other statute prevails.
         [(b)     The organizational structure of this subtitle and the
  statutory placement of a court fee or cost within that
  organizational structure does not:
               [(1)     affect a duty imposed on or the authority granted
  to a judge or clerk of a court by any other state statute with
  respect to the imposition, assessment, or collection of the fee or
  cost; or
               [(2)     impose a duty on or grant authority to a judge or
  clerk of a court not otherwise imposed or granted by other law with
  respect to the imposition, assessment, or collection of the fee or
  cost.]
  SUBCHAPTER B. COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION
         Sec. 82A.051 [102.021].  COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION:  CODE OF
  CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.  A person convicted of an offense shall pay the
  following under the Code of Criminal Procedure, in addition to all
  other costs:
               (1)  court cost on conviction of any offense, other
  than a conviction of an offense relating to a pedestrian or the
  parking of a motor vehicle (Art. 102.0045, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $4;
               (2)  a fee for services of prosecutor (Art. 102.008,
  Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (3)  fees for services of peace officer:
                     (A)  issuing a written notice to appear in court
  for certain violations (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure)
  . . . $5;
                     (B)  executing or processing an issued arrest
  warrant, capias, or capias pro fine (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $50;
                     (C)  summoning a witness (Art. 102.011, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $5;
                     (D)  serving a writ not otherwise listed (Art.
  102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $35;
                     (E)  taking and approving a bond and, if
  necessary, returning the bond to courthouse (Art. 102.011, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $10;
                     (F)  commitment or release (Art. 102.011, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $5;
                     (G)  summoning a jury (Art. 102.011, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $5;
                     (H)  attendance of a prisoner in habeas corpus
  case if prisoner has been remanded to custody or held to bail (Art.
  102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $8 each day;
                     (I)  mileage for certain services performed (Art.
  102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.29 per mile; and
                     (J)  services of a sheriff or constable who serves
  process and attends examining trial in certain cases (Art. 102.011,
  Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5;
               (4)  services of a peace officer in conveying a witness
  outside the county (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . .
  $10 per day or part of a day, plus actual necessary travel expenses;
               (5)  overtime of peace officer for time spent
  testifying in the trial or traveling to or from testifying in the
  trial (Art. 102.011, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . actual cost;
               (6)  court costs on an offense relating to rules of the
  road, when offense occurs within a school crossing zone (Art.
  102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (7)  court costs on an offense of passing a school bus
  (Art. 102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (8)  court costs on an offense of truancy or
  contributing to truancy (Art. 102.014, Code of Criminal Procedure)
  . . . $20;
               (9)  cost for visual recording of intoxication arrest
  before conviction (Art. 102.018, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . .
  $15;
               (10)  cost of certain evaluations (Art. 102.018, Code
  of Criminal Procedure) . . . actual cost;
               (11)  additional costs attendant to certain
  intoxication convictions under Chapter 49, Penal Code, for
  emergency medical services, trauma facilities, and trauma care
  systems (Art. 102.0185, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $100;
               (12)  additional costs attendant to certain child
  sexual assault and related convictions, for child abuse prevention
  programs (Art. 102.0186, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $100;
               (13)  court cost for DNA testing for certain felonies
  (Art. 102.020(a)(1), Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $250;
               (14)  court cost for DNA testing for the offense of
  public lewdness or indecent exposure (Art. 102.020(a)(2), Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $50;
               (15)  court cost for DNA testing for certain felonies
  (Art. 102.020(a)(3), Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $34;
               (16)  if required by the court, a restitution fee for
  costs incurred in collecting restitution installments and for the
  compensation to victims of crime fund (Art. 42.037, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $12;
               (17)  if directed by the justice of the peace or
  municipal court judge hearing the case, court costs on conviction
  in a criminal action (Art. 45.041, Code of Criminal Procedure)
  . . . part or all of the costs as directed by the judge; and
               (18)  costs attendant to convictions under Chapter 49,
  Penal Code, and under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, to help
  fund drug court programs established under Chapter 469, Health and
  Safety Code (Art. 102.0178, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $60.
         Sec. 82A.052 [102.0211].  COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION:  GOVERNMENT CODE. A person convicted of an offense
  shall pay the following under the Government Code, in addition to
  all other costs:
               (1)  court costs on certain convictions in statutory
  county courts (Sec. 51.702, Government Code) . . . $15; and
               (2)  court costs on certain convictions in certain
  county courts (Sec. 51.703, Government Code) . . . $15.
         Sec. 82A.053 [102.0212].  COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION:  LOCAL
  GOVERNMENT CODE. A person convicted of an offense shall pay the
  following under the Local Government Code, in addition to all other
  costs:
               (1)  court costs on conviction of a felony (Sec.
  133.102, Local Government Code) . . . $133;
               (2)  court costs on conviction of a Class A or Class B
  misdemeanor (Sec. 133.102, Local Government Code) . . . $83;
               (3)  court costs on conviction of a nonjailable
  misdemeanor offense, including a criminal violation of a municipal
  ordinance, other than a conviction of an offense relating to a
  pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle (Sec. 133.102, Local
  Government Code) . . . $40;
               (4)  a time payment fee if convicted of a felony or
  misdemeanor for paying any part of a fine, court costs, or
  restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a
  judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution
  (Sec. 133.103, Local Government Code) . . . $25;
               (5)  a cost on conviction of any offense, other than an
  offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle
  (Sec. 133.105, Local Government Code) . . . $6; and
               (6)  a cost on conviction of any offense, other than an
  offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle
  (Sec. 133.107, Local Government Code) . . . $2.
         Sec. 82A.054 [102.0213].  COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION:  TRANSPORTATION CODE. A person convicted of an offense
  shall pay the following under the Transportation Code, in addition
  to all other costs:
               (1)  court cost on conviction of a misdemeanor under
  Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation Code (Sec. 542.403,
  Transportation Code) . . . $3;
               (2)  cost for impoundment of vehicle (Sec. 601.263,
  Transportation Code) . . . $15 per day; and
               (3)  a civil and criminal enforcement cost on
  conviction of an offense of, or related to, the nonpayment of a toll
  in certain counties (Sec. 284.2031, Transportation Code) . . . $1.
         Sec. 82A.055 [102.0214].  COURT COSTS ON CONVICTION:  PARKS
  AND WILDLIFE CODE. A person convicted of an offense shall pay under
  Section 12.110, Parks and Wildlife Code, in addition to all other
  costs,  the actual cost of any storage, care, feeding, cold
  storage, or processing necessary for an unlawfully taken, shipped,
  or possessed game bird, fowl, animal, game fish, or exotic animal.
  SUBCHAPTER C. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN DISTRICT COURT
         Sec. 82A.101 [102.041].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN DISTRICT COURT: CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. The
  clerk of a district court shall collect fees and costs under the
  Code of Criminal Procedure on conviction of a defendant as follows:
               (1)  a jury fee (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $20;
               (2)  a fee for clerk of the court services (Art.
  102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $40;
               (3)  a records management and preservation services fee
  (Art. 102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (4)  a county and district court technology fee (Art.
  102.0169, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $4;
               (5)  a security fee on a felony offense (Art. 102.017,
  Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $5;
               (6)  a security fee on a misdemeanor offense (Art.
  102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $3; and
               (7)  a juvenile delinquency prevention and graffiti
  eradication fee (Art. 102.0171, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . .
  $50.
         Sec. 82A.102 [102.042].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN DISTRICT COURT: HUMAN RESOURCES CODE. The clerk of a
  district court shall collect from a defendant a court cost of $4
  under Section 152.0522, Human Resources Code, on conviction in
  Comal County.
  SUBCHAPTER D. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN STATUTORY COUNTY COURT
         Sec. 82A.151 [102.061].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN STATUTORY COUNTY COURT:  CODE OF CRIMINAL
  PROCEDURE.  The clerk of a statutory county court shall collect
  fees and costs under the Code of Criminal Procedure on conviction of
  a defendant as follows:
               (1)  a jury fee (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $20;
               (2)  a fee for services of the clerk of the court (Art.
  102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $40;
               (3)  a records management and preservation services fee
  (Art. 102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (4)  a county and district court technology fee (Art.
  102.0169, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $4;  
               (5)  a security fee on a misdemeanor offense (Art.
  102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $3;
               (6)  a juvenile delinquency prevention and graffiti
  eradication fee (Art. 102.0171, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . .
  $50;
               (7)  a juvenile case manager fee (Art. 102.0174, Code
  of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5 if the court employs a
  juvenile case manager; and
               (8)  a civil justice fee (Art. 102.022, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.10.
         Sec. 82A.152 [102.062].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN STATUTORY COUNTY COURT: HUMAN RESOURCES CODE. The
  clerk of a statutory county court shall collect from a defendant a
  court cost of $4 under Section 152.0522, Human Resources Code, on
  conviction in Comal County.
  SUBCHAPTER E. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN COUNTY COURT
         Sec. 82A.201 [102.081].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN COUNTY COURT:  CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.  The
  clerk of a county court shall collect fees and costs under the Code
  of Criminal Procedure on conviction of a defendant as follows:
               (1)  a jury fee (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $20;
               (2)  a fee for clerk of the court services (Art.
  102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $40;
               (3)  a records management and preservation services fee
  (Art. 102.005, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $25;
               (4)  a county and district court technology fee (Art.
  102.0169, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $4;
               (5)  a security fee on a misdemeanor offense (Art.
  102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $3;
               (6)  a juvenile delinquency prevention and graffiti
  eradication fee (Art. 102.0171, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . .
  $50;
               (7)  a juvenile case manager fee (Art. 102.0174, Code
  of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5 if the court employs a
  juvenile case manager; and
               (8)  a civil justice fee (Art. 102.022, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.10.
  SUBCHAPTER F. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN JUSTICE COURT
         Sec. 82A.251 [102.101].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN JUSTICE COURT:  CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.  A clerk
  of a justice court shall collect fees and costs under the Code of
  Criminal Procedure on conviction of a defendant as follows:
               (1)  a jury fee (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $3;
               (2)  a fee for withdrawing request for jury less than 24
  hours before time of trial (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $3;
               (3)  a jury fee for two or more defendants tried jointly
  (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . one jury fee of $3;
               (4)  a security fee on a misdemeanor offense (Art.
  102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $4;
               (5)  a fee for technology fund on a misdemeanor offense
  (Art. 102.0173, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $4;
               (6)  a juvenile case manager fee (Art. 102.0174, Code
  of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5 if the court employs a
  juvenile case manager;
               (7)  a fee on conviction of certain offenses involving
  issuing or passing a subsequently dishonored check (Art. 102.0071,
  Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $30;
               (8)  a court cost on conviction of a Class C misdemeanor
  in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more, if authorized
  by the county commissioners court (Art. 102.009, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . not to exceed $7; and
               (9)  a civil justice fee (Art. 102.022, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.10.
         Sec. 82A.252 [102.102].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN JUSTICE COURT:  BUSINESS & COMMERCE CODE. The clerk
  of a justice court shall collect from a defendant a court cost not
  to exceed $30 under Section 3.506, Business & Commerce Code, on
  conviction of certain offenses involving issuing or passing a
  subsequently dishonored check.
         Sec. 82A.253 [102.103].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN JUSTICE COURT: HUMAN RESOURCES CODE. A clerk of a
  justice court shall collect from a defendant a court cost of $1.50
  under Section 152.0522, Human Resources Code, on conviction in
  Comal County.
  SUBCHAPTER G. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN MUNICIPAL COURT
         Sec. 82A.301 [102.121].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS ON
  CONVICTION IN MUNICIPAL COURT:  CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.  The
  clerk of a municipal court shall collect fees and costs on
  conviction of a defendant as follows:
               (1)  a jury fee (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $3;
               (2)  a fee for withdrawing request for jury less than 24
  hours before time of trial (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal
  Procedure) . . . $3;
               (3)  a jury fee for two or more defendants tried jointly
  (Art. 102.004, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . one jury fee of $3;
               (4)  a security fee on a misdemeanor offense (Art.
  102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . $3;
               (5)  a fee for technology fund on a misdemeanor offense
  (Art. 102.0172, Code of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $4;
               (6)  a juvenile case manager fee (Art. 102.0174, Code
  of Criminal Procedure) . . . not to exceed $5 if the municipality
  employs a juvenile case manager; and
               (7)  a civil justice fee (Art. 102.022, Code of
  Criminal Procedure) . . . $0.10.
  SUBCHAPTER H. CRIMINAL COURT COSTS IN MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD
         Sec. 82A.351 [102.141].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS IN
  MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD: CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. The clerk of
  a municipal court of record shall collect  from a defendant on
  conviction of a misdemeanor offense a fee of not more than $4 under
  Article 102.0172, Code of Criminal Procedure, for the technology
  fund.
         Sec. 82A.352 [102.142].  ADDITIONAL COURT COSTS IN
  MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a
  municipal court of record shall collect the following fees and
  costs:
               (1)  from an appellant, a fee for preparation of the
  clerk's record (Sec. 30.00014, Government Code) . . . $25; and
               (2)  from an appellant in the City of El Paso, an
  appellate court docket fee (Sec. 30.00147, Government Code) . . .
  $25.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The Office of Court Administration of the
  Texas Judicial System shall conduct a study on criminal court costs
  and fees in this state and develop recommendations on improving
  court cost and fee assessment and collection for criminal
  defendants.
         (b)  The study described by Subsection (a) of this section
  must assess the feasibility and desirability of:
               (1)  basing the amount of criminal court costs and fees
  solely on the grade of offense;
               (2)  consolidating statutory references to criminal
  court costs and fees;
               (3)  increasing criminal court costs and fees based on
  cost-of-living increases through rulemaking; and
               (4)  providing training to judges, clerks, and other
  court personnel on criminal court costs and fees.
         (c)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the Office of Court
  Administration  of the Texas Judicial System shall submit to the
  legislature a report based on the study required by this section.
  The report must include any legislative recommendations for
  improving criminal court cost and fee assessment and collection for
  criminal defendants in this state.
         (d)  This section expires January 31, 2015.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 82A, Local Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to a court cost or fee imposed on or after the
  effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense for
  which the cost or fee was imposed was committed before, on, or after
  that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.
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