Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.303 · Subchapter G. DEFERRED DISPOSITION
DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, as an alternative to requiring a defendant charged with one or more offenses to pay all fines and court costs as required by Article 45A.302, the judge may:
(1) allow the defendant to enter into an agreement to pay those fines and costs in installments during the defendant's period of deferral;
(2) require an eligible defendant to discharge all or part of those fines and costs by performing community service or attending a tutoring program under Article 45A.254 or 45A.460;
(3) waive all or part of those fines and costs under Article 45A.257; or
(4) take any combination of actions authorized by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3).
(b) During the deferral period, the judge may require the defendant to:
(1) secure payment of the fine by posting a bond in the amount of the fine assessed as punishment for the offense;
(2) pay restitution to the victim of the offense in an amount not to exceed the amount of the fine assessed as punishment for the offense;
(3) submit to professional counseling;
(4) submit to diagnostic testing for alcohol or a controlled substance or drug;
(5) submit to a psychosocial assessment;
(6) successfully complete an alcohol awareness or substance misuse treatment or education program, such as:
(A) a substance misuse education program that is designed to educate persons on the dangers of substance misuse in accordance with Section 521.374(a)(1), Transportation Code, and that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, Government Code; or
(B) an alcohol awareness program described by Section 106.115, Alcoholic Beverage Code, that is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter 171, Government Code;
(7) pay the costs of any diagnostic testing, psychosocial assessment, or treatment or education program participation as reimbursement fees:
(A) directly; or
(B) through the court as court costs;
(8) complete a driving safety course approved under Chapter 1001, Education Code, or another course as directed by the judge;
(9) present to the court satisfactory evidence that the defendant has complied with each requirement imposed by the judge under this subchapter; and
(10) comply with any other reasonable condition.
(c) A judge who requires a defendant to successfully complete an alcohol awareness program or substance misuse education program as described by Subsection (b)(6) shall require the defendant to pay a reimbursement fee for the cost of the program, unless the judge determines that the defendant is indigent and unable to pay the cost.
(d) The judge may allow the defendant to pay the fee described by Subsection (c) in installments during the deferral period.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.
Amended by:
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620), Sec. 5.020(a), eff. September 1, 2025.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.45A.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 ed17d6020a45bc07bf17a2ad41bd7b577e0b6acf824fbd5df8de165531ccc956
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Alcoholic Beverage Code
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.254COMMUNITY SERVICE TO SATISFY FINES OR COSTS.Printed as Article 45A.254 or 45A.460
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.257WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS.Printed as Article 45A.257
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.302DEFERRED DISPOSITION.Printed as Article 45A.302
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.460COMMUNITY SERVICE TO SATISFY FINES OR COSTS FOR CERTAIN JUVENILE DEFENDANTS FOR OFFENSES ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.Printed as Article 45A.254 or 45A.460
Education Code
Cited by 2 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.303. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Code of Criminal Procedure
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.