STAY OF ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTY

(a) A person who files a petition for judicial review without paying the administrative penalty may, within the 30-day period prescribed by Section 84.045: (1) stay enforcement of the penalty by: (A) paying the penalty to the court for placement in an escrow account; or (B) giving the court a supersedeas bond approved by the court that: (i) is for the amount of the penalty; and (ii) is effective until all judicial review of the board's order is final; or (2) request the court to stay enforcement of the penalty by: (A) filing with the court an affidavit stating that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and (B) giving a copy of the affidavit to the commissioner by certified mail. (b) If the commissioner receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (a)(2), the commissioner may file with the court, not later than the fifth day after the date the copy is received, a contest to the affidavit. The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay the enforcement of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and to give a supersedeas bond.