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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the conversion of certain Class C |
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misdemeanors to civil violations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The Office of Court Administration of the |
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Texas Judicial System shall conduct a study to determine the |
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feasibility, efficiency, and potential cost savings of converting |
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certain Class C misdemeanors to civil violations. In conducting |
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the study, the office shall examine: |
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(1) which Class C misdemeanors are appropriate to |
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convert to civil violations; and |
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(2) which civil collections procedures involving |
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judicial oversight could be used to collect fines, court costs, and |
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fees on the civil violations. |
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(b) For input regarding the study, the Office of Court |
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Administration of the Texas Judicial System: |
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(1) shall consult with county and municipal court |
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judges, justices of the peace, the Department of Public Safety, the |
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Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas District and County |
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Attorneys Association; and |
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(2) may consult with any other appropriate agency or |
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organization. |
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(c) Not later than October 1, 2020, the Office of Court |
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Administration of the Texas Judicial System shall file a report |
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containing the results of the study and recommendations for |
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legislation with the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker |
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of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the standing |
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committees of the senate and house of representatives with |
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jurisdiction over the judicial system. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |