Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts - Fiscal 2024
GR Account 5073 – Fair Defense

Account in the General Revenue Fund to receive court costs from defendants convicted under certain sections of the Penal Code. Defendants convicted of a felony pay $185, defendants convicted of a Class A or B misdemeanor pay $147 and defendants convicted of a nonjailable misdemeanor pay $62. This account receives 17.8857%. Used by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to develop policies and standards under which attorneys may qualify for appointment to represent indigent defendants and a plan establishing statewide requirements for counties relating to reporting indigent defense information.

Receives one-third of a $15 cost paid by each surety posting a bail bond, up to $30 for all bonds posted for an individual. Remaining two-thirds to the Assistant Prosecutor Supplement Fund (0303).

$15 cost added by H.B. 1940, 78th Leg., R.S.

H.B. 2424, 78th Leg., R.S. recodified art. 102.075, Code of Criminal Procedure.

New agency 215 authorized to use per S.B. 1091, 81st Leg., R.S.

Recodified § 71.058, GOV'T Code and replaced Task Force on Indigent Defense by H.B. 1754, 82nd Leg., R.S.;

Percentage increased from 6.0143% to 8.0143% by H.B. 442, 82nd Leg., R.S.

Percentage increased from 8.0143% to 17.8448% by S.B. 2053, 85th Leg., R.S.

Effective 01/01/2020, S.B. 346, 86th Leg., R.S. increased court costs for felonies from $133 to $185, Class A or B misdemeanor from $83 to $147 and nonjailable misdemeanors from $40 to $62. S.B. 346 changed percentage from 17.8448% to 17.8857%.