Texas § 45A.303 DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.

Texas Statutes

§ 45A.303 — DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.

Texas § 45A.303

Code CRCode of Criminal Procedure

This text of Texas § 45A.303 (DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 45A.303 (2026).

Text

Art. 45A.303. DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.

(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

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Art. 45A.303. DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS. (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.

Legislative 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.