Art. 44.2812.  CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS RELATED TO FINE-ONLY MISDEMEANOR.

Text of subsection effective until January 01, 2025

  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) and Article 45.0218(b), following the fifth anniversary of the date of a final conviction of, or of a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only, all records and files and information stored by electronic means or otherwise, from which a record or file could be generated, that are held or stored by or for an appellate court and relate to the person who was convicted of, or who received a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, the offense are confidential and may not be disclosed to the public.

Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2025

(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) and Article 45A.055(b), following the fifth anniversary of the date of a final conviction of, or of a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only, all records and files and information stored by electronic means or otherwise, from which a record or file could be generated, that are held or stored by or for an appellate court and relate to the person who was convicted of, or who received a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, the offense are confidential and may not be disclosed to the public.
(b)  This article does not apply to:
(1)  an opinion issued by an appellate court; or
(2)  records, files, and information described by Subsection (a) that relate to an offense that is sexual in nature, as determined by the holder of the records, files, or information.
Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 811 (H.B. 681), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Amended by: 
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 2.030, eff. January 1, 2025.