Florida HB257: An act relating to the elimination of court-related financial obligations for juveniles

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.