TITLE: Relating to a defendant's payment of costs associated with a court-appointed counsel.

SUMMARY: Relating to a defendant's payment of costs associated with a court-appointed counsel.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a defendant's payment of costs associated with a court-appointed counsel. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 26.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows: (g-1) This subsection applies only to a defendant who at the time of sentencing to confinement or placement on community supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision, did not have the financial resources to pay the maximum amount described by Subsection (g)(1) or (2), as applicable, for legal services provided to the defendant. At any time during a defendant's sentence of confinement or period of community supervision, the judge, after providing written notice to the defendant and an opportunity for the defendant to present information relevant to the defendant's ability to pay, may order a defendant to whom this subsection applies to pay any unpaid portion of that amount if the judge determines that the defendant has the financial resources to pay the additional portion. In making a determination under this subsection, the judge may only consider the information a court or courts' designee is authorized to consider in making an indigency determination under Article 26.04(m). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.