Text of article effective on January 01, 2025

Art. 45A.302.  DEFERRED DISPOSITION.  (a)  On a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by a defendant or on a finding of guilt in a misdemeanor case punishable by fine only and payment of all court costs, a judge may defer further proceedings for a period not to exceed 180 days without entering an adjudication of guilt.
(b)  In issuing the order of deferral, the judge may impose a fine on the defendant in an amount not to exceed the amount of the fine that could be imposed on the defendant as punishment for the offense.
(c)  The fine described by Subsection (b) may be collected at any time before the date on which the period of deferral ends.  A judge who orders the collection of the fine must require that the amount of the fine be credited toward the payment of the amount of any fine imposed by the judge as punishment for the offense.
(d)  The judge may elect not to impose the fine for good cause shown by the defendant.
(e)  An order of deferral under this article terminates any liability under a bond given for the charge.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.