Text of article effective on January 01, 2025
Art. 45A.254.  COMMUNITY SERVICE TO SATISFY FINES OR COSTS.  (a)  A justice or judge may require a defendant who fails to pay a previously assessed fine or cost, or who is determined by the court to have insufficient resources or income to pay a fine or cost, to discharge all or part of the fine or cost by performing community service.
(b)  An order requiring a defendant to perform community service under this article must specify:
(1)  the number of hours of community service the defendant is required to perform; and
(2)  the date by which the defendant must submit to the court documentation verifying that the defendant completed the community service.
(c)  The justice or judge may order the defendant to perform community service under this article:
(1)  by attending:
(A)  a work and job skills training program;
(B)  a preparatory class for the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code;
(C)  an alcohol or drug abuse program;
(D)  a rehabilitation program;
(E)  a counseling program, including a self-improvement program;
(F)  a mentoring program; or
(G)  any similar activity; or
(2)  for:
(A)  a governmental entity;
(B)  a nonprofit organization or another organization that provides to the general public services that enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community, as determined by the justice or judge; or
(C)  an educational institution.
(d)  A justice or judge may not order a defendant to perform more than 16 hours each week of community service under this article unless the justice or judge determines that requiring the defendant to perform additional hours does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant or the defendant's dependents.
(e)  A defendant is considered to have discharged not less than $100 of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed under this article.
(f)  A defendant may discharge an obligation to perform community service under this article by paying at any time the fine and costs assessed.
(g)  A community supervision and corrections department or a court-related services office may provide the administrative and other services necessary to supervise a defendant required to perform community service under this article.
(h)  An entity that accepts a defendant to perform community service under this article must agree to:
(1)  supervise, either on-site or remotely, the defendant in the performance of the defendant's community service; and
(2)  report on the defendant's community service to the justice or judge who ordered the service.
(i)  A sheriff, employee of a sheriff's department, county commissioner, county employee, county judge, justice of the peace, municipal court judge, or officer or employee of a political subdivision other than a county or an entity that accepts a defendant to perform community service under this article is not liable for damages arising from an act or failure to act in connection with the community service if the act or failure to act:
(1)  was performed pursuant to court order; and
(2)  was not intentional, wilfully or wantonly negligent, or performed with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.