Sec. 161.253. E-CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO AWARENESS PROGRAM; COMMUNITY SERVICE. (a) On conviction of an individual for an offense under Section 161.252, the court shall suspend execution of sentence and shall require the defendant to attend an e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program approved by the commissioner. The court may require the parent or guardian of the defendant to attend the e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program with the defendant.

(b) On request, an e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program may be taught in languages other than English.

(c) If the defendant resides in a rural area of this state or another area of this state in which access to an e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program is not readily available, the court shall require the defendant to perform eight to 12 hours of e-cigarette- and tobacco-related community service instead of attending the e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program.

(d) The e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program and the e-cigarette- and tobacco-related community service are remedial and are not punishment.

(e) Not later than the 90th day after the date of a conviction under Section 161.252, the defendant shall present to the court, in the manner required by the court, evidence of satisfactory completion of the e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program or the e-cigarette- and tobacco-related community service.

(f) On receipt of the evidence required under Subsection (e), the court shall:

(1) if the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense under Section 161.252, execute the sentence, and at the discretion of the court, reduce the fine imposed to not less than half the fine previously imposed by the court; or

(2) if the defendant has not been previously convicted of an offense under Section 161.252, discharge the defendant and dismiss the complaint or information against the defendant.

(g) If the court discharges the defendant under Subsection (f)(2), the defendant is released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense except that the defendant is considered to have been convicted of the offense if the defendant is subsequently convicted of an offense under Section 161.252 committed after the dismissal under Subsection (f)(2).

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 671, Sec. 3.01, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 181 (S.B. 97), Sec. 20, eff. October 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 181 (S.B. 97), Sec. 21, eff. October 1, 2015.