The Florida legislature recently introduced a bill eliminating fees assessed to juveniles. Balances of any court fees owed by a child, young adult, or a child’s parent or legal guardian are deemed unenforceable and uncollectable, and all unsatisfied civil judgements based on unpaid court fees are vacated by the bill.
Key Provisions:
- Eliminates a number of fees for youth including:
- Application fee for court appointed counsel
- Additional court costs for felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic offenses
- Costs for crime stoppers programs
- Costs to fund programs in domestic violence
- Costs to fund rape crisis centers
- Costs for criminal justice education for local government
- Costs for assistance grants for alcohol and other drug abuse programs
- Costs of prosecution and investigation
- Processing fee for an application to expunge criminal record
- Supervision costs
- Costs of diversion services
- Costs of civil citation or similar pre arrest diversion programs
You can read the full text of the bill here and a one-page summary here.
Learn more about FFJC’s efforts to reform fines and fees in Florida here.
Primary sponsor(s): Representatives Duran and Aloupis and Senator Book
Bill number: HB257
Name of Bill (as introduced): An act relating to the elimination of court-related financial obligations for juveniles
Status: Pending