Bill > HB5240

This bill creates a new pretrial intervention and diversion program for first-time, nonviolent offenders in Texas, allowing courts to defer criminal proceedings and permit defendants to participate in an alternative program. Under the new law, prosecutors can establish guidelines for accepting defendants into the program, which may require community service and victim restitution, and can contract with entities to monitor participant compliance. If a defendant successfully completes the program by a court-specified date, the criminal charges will be dismissed. The bill also updates reimbursement fee regulations, increasing the maximum fee for this new diversion program to $1,000 (compared to the previous $500 limit for traditional pretrial intervention programs), with collected fees to be deposited in a special county treasury fund used solely for administering the program. The law will apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, and is designed to provide an alternative to traditional criminal prosecution for eligible first-time, nonviolent offenders, potentially helping to reduce criminal justice system burdens and provide rehabilitation opportunities.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5240