Art. 45.0492. COMMUNITY SERVICE IN SATISFACTION OF FINE OR COSTS FOR CERTAIN JUVENILE DEFENDANTS    

(b) A justice or judge may require a defendant described by Subsection (a) to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by performing community service or attending a tutoring program that is satisfactory to the court. A defendant may discharge an obligation to perform community service or attend a tutoring program under this article by paying at any time the fine and costs assessed.

(c) In the justice's or judge's order requiring a defendant to participate in community service work or a tutoring program under this article, the justice or judge must specify the number of hours the defendant is required to work or attend tutoring.

(d) The justice or judge may order the defendant to perform community service work under this article only for a governmental entity or a nonprofit organization that provides services to the general public that enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community. A governmental entity or nonprofit organization that accepts a defendant under this article to perform community service must agree to supervise the defendant in the performance of the defendant's work and report on the defendant's work to the justice or judge who ordered the community service.

(e) A tutoring program that accepts a defendant under this article must agree to supervise the defendant in the attendance of the tutoring program and report on the defendant's work to the justice or judge who ordered the tutoring.

(f) A justice or judge may not order a defendant to perform more than 16 hours of community service per week or attend more than 16 hours of tutoring per week under this article unless the justice or judge determines that requiring additional hours of work or tutoring does not cause a hardship on the defendant or the defendant's family. For purposes of this subsection, "family" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.003, Family Code.

(g) A defendant is considered to have discharged not less than $50 of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed or tutoring program attended under this article.

(h) A sheriff, employee of a sheriff's department, county commissioner, county employee, county judge, justice of the peace, municipal court judge, officer or employee of a political subdivision other than a county, nonprofit organization, or tutoring program is not liable for damages arising from an act or failure to act in connection with an activity performed by a defendant under this article if the act or failure to act:

(1) was performed pursuant to court order; and

(2) was not intentional, grossly negligent, or performed with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others.

(i) A local juvenile probation department or a court-related services office may provide the administrative and other services necessary for supervision of a defendant required to perform community service under this article.