H.B. No. 121
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to an alternative means of payment of certain past due
  criminal fines and court costs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 103, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 103. PAYMENT, COLLECTION, AND RECORDKEEPING
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 103, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 103.0025 to read as follows:
         Art. 103.0025.  ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN
  PAST DUE FINES AND COSTS. (a) This article applies to a
  defendant's past due payment on a judgment for a fine and related
  court costs if a capias pro fine has been issued in the case.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court
  may adopt an alternative procedure for collecting a past due
  payment described by Subsection (a). Under the procedure, a peace
  officer who executes a capias pro fine or who is authorized to
  arrest a defendant on other grounds and knows that the defendant
  owes a past due payment described by Subsection (a):
               (1)  shall inform the defendant of:
                     (A)  the possibility of making an immediate
  payment of the fine and related court costs by use of a credit or
  debit card; and
                     (B)  the defendant's available alternatives to
  making an immediate payment; and
               (2)  may accept, on behalf of the court, the defendant's
  immediate payment of the fine and related court costs by use of a
  credit or debit card, after which the peace officer may release the
  defendant as appropriate based on the officer's authority for the
  arrest.
         (c)  A peace officer accepting a payment under Subsection
  (b)(2) may also accept payment for fees for the issuance and
  execution of the capias pro fine.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 121 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 121 was passed by the Senate on May
  20, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays 6.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor