SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1390

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Law & Justice, February 26, 2016

Ways & Means, February 29, 2016

Title: An act relating to legal financial obligations.

Brief Description: Concerning legal financial obligations.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman, Holy, Jinkins, Kagi, Moscoso, Ormsby and Pollet).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/09/15, 94-4; 2/03/16, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 3/30/15, 3/31/15 [DPA-WM]; 2/24/16, 2/26/16 [DPA-WM].

Ways & Means: 4/06/15, 4/07/15 [DPA, w/oRec]; 2/29/16, 2/29/16 [DPA(LAW), DNP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Padden, Chair; O'Ban, Vice Chair; Pedersen, Ranking Minority Member; Darneille, Frockt, Pearson and Roach.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Law & Justice.

Signed by Senators Dammeier, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Member on the Capital Budget; Ranker, Ranking Minority Member, Operating; Billig, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Nelson, O'Ban, Padden, Pedersen and Rolfes.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Braun, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Becker and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Bailey, Brown, Parlette and Schoesler.

Staff: Julie Murray (786-7711)

Background: Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs). When a defendant is convicted of a crime, the court may impose LFOs as part of the judgment and sentence. LFOs include victim restitution; crime victims' compensation fees; costs associated with the offender's prosecution and sentence; fines; penalties; and assessments.

Interest on LFOs. Interest Rate. LFO judgments bear interest from the date of judgment at the same rate that applies to civil judgments. The rate of interest generally applicable to civil judgments is the greater of 12 percent or four points above the 26‑week treasury bill rate. As a result of low treasury bill rates, 12 percent has been the applicable interest rate on LFOs for over two decades. For cases in courts of limited jurisdiction, interest accrues on non-restitution financial obligations at the rate of 12 percent upon assignment to a collection agency.

Interest that accrues on the restitution portion of the LFO is paid to the victim of the offense. All other accrued interest is split between the state and the county as follows: 25 percent to the state general fund; 25 percent to the state Judicial Information System Account; and 50 percent to the county, 25 percent of which must be used to fund local courts.

Reduction or Waiver of Interest. An offender may petition a court to reduce or waive the interest on LFOs as an incentive for the offender to pay the principal. The court must waive interest on the portion of LFOs that accrued during the term of total confinement for the conviction giving rise to the LFOs if it creates a hardship for the offender or the defendant's family. The court may otherwise reduce interest on non-restitution LFOs if the offender has made a good faith effort to pay. Interest on restitution may not be waived, but may be reduced if the offender has paid the restitution principal in full.

Imposition and Collection of LFOs. Costs. Costs that may be imposed on a defendant include public defense costs, jury fee, criminal filing fee, bench warrant fee, deferred prosecution fee, pre-trial supervision fee, witness costs, incarceration costs, and other costs as ordered by the court.

A court may not order a defendant to pay costs unless the court finds that the defendant is or will be able to pay them. In determining the amount and method of payment of costs, the court must take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose. A defendant not in default in the payment of costs may petition for remission of all or part of the costs owed if payment of the amount due will result in manifest hardship to the defendant or the defendant's family.

Priority of Payment. An offender's payments toward an LFO are applied first to restitution, and then proportionally to other monetary obligations after restitution has been satisfied. Costs of incarceration, if ordered, are paid last.

Failure to Pay LFOs. The requirement that an offender pay a monthly sum toward an LFO is a condition of the sentence and an offender is subject to penalties for noncompliance. Under the Sentencing Reform Act, sanctions for a willful failure to pay can include incarceration or other penalties such as work crew or community restitution. If the failure to pay is not willful, the court may modify the offender's LFOs.

Civil contempt sanctions may also apply to an offender who fails to pay financial obligations. If the court finds that the failure to pay was willful, the court may impose contempt sanctions including incarceration. If the court determines the failure to pay was not willful, the court may modify the terms of payment, or reduce or revoke the amount of the financial obligation.

DNA Database Fee. A biological sample must be collected for purposes of DNA identification analysis from every person convicted of a felony or certain other offenses, and the court must impose a $100 fee as part of the sentence for the offense. Eighty percent of the fee is deposited into the DNA Database Account and 20 percent of the fee is transmitted to the local agency that collected the biological sample.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): LFO Interest. Interest accrual on an offender's LFO imposed in superior court or courts of limited jurisdiction is at the rate of 4 percent, instead of the greater of 12 percent or four points above the 26‑week treasury bill rate, as of the effective date of the act.

Imposition and Collection of LFOs. An offender's monthly LFO payment must be applied proportionally first to all restitution victims, that have not been fully compensated from other sources, prior to payment of any other monetary obligations. After restitution is fully satisfied, payment is distributed proportionally in the following order: first to restitution to insurance or other sources with respect to a loss that has provided compensation to victims; second to crime victims' assessments; and third to costs, fines, and other assessments required by law. The priority of payment applies to cases in courts of limited jurisdiction as well as superior court.

DNA Database Fee. The court is not required to impose the DNA database fee if the state has previously collected the offender's DNA as a result of a prior conviction.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY LAW & JUSTICE COMMITTEE (Recommended Amendments): As of the effective date of the act, nonrestitution legal financial obligations bear a 4 percent interest rate. The provisions dealing with imposing costs at the time of sentencing for indigent defendants are removed. The new provisions regarding sanctioning proceedings and standards for finding an unwillful failure to pay legal financial obligations are removed. The trial court is not required to make an individualized inquiry into the defendant's current or future ability to pay before the court imposes costs. The defendant may seek a modification in the event that he or she is unable to pay as allowed by statute or court rule. Restitution shall be entered pursuant to priorities set in the order setting restitution.

Upon receipt of any payment made by or on behalf of an offender, payment must be distributed in the following priority until satisfied:

  1. proportionally to restitution to victims that have not been fully compensated from other sources;

  2. proportionally to restitution to insurance or other sources with respect to a loss that has provided compensation to victims;

  3. proportionally to crime victims' assessments; and

  4. proportionally to costs, fines, and other assessments required by law.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Law & Justice): Testimony From 2015 Regular Session on Bill as Heard in Committee. PRO: This is an effort to fix the broken LFO system. We are failing to collect LFOs. The striking amendment preserves current judicial discretion. Collecting 100 percent of of something is better than 100 percent of nothing. We need to get offenders off the treadmill of paying LFO interest. The current LFO system affects families of color and those with limited financial means. Restitution needs to be a priority. LFOs are imposed disproportionately on people of color. LFOs punish poverty. This properly recognizes the value of restitution while helping offenders reintegrate into society. Even a person trying to pay LFOs can fall behind because of the high interest rate.

CON: The striking amendment lessens the fiscal impact, but it is still significant. The current system is case based, so it would be difficult to apply the restitution priority without significant changes to the system or court clerk time. The technology is not currently available to do electronic transfers with the priorities in the bill. A fixed interest rate will be simpler.

OTHER: We need to know how this would effect net collections.

Persons Testifying (Law & Justice): Persons Testifying From 2015 Regular Session. PRO: Representative Goodman, prime sponsor; Representative Holy; Judge Steve Warning, Superior Court Judges Assn.; Deborah Hawley; Gerald Hankerson, National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Seattle King County; Senait Brown, NAACP, Black Out WA; Shankar Nareyan; American Civil Liberties Union of WA; Leo Flor, NW Justice Project; Nick Allers, Columbia Legal Services; Bob Cooper, WA Defender Assn., WA Assn of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Judge Theresa Doyle, WA Minority and Justice Commission; Michele Dovres, Valorie Bodeau, citizens.

CON: Ruth Gordon, WA State Assn. of County Clerks (WSACC); Sonya Kraske, Snohomish County; Joel McAllister, WSACC, King County Clerk; Brian Enslow WA State Assn. of Counties.

OTHER: Greg Luhn, WA Collectors Assn.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Law & Justice): Testimony From 2016 Regular Session on Engrossed Second Substitute Bill. PRO: This bill will improve public safety and encourage restitution for victims. It will also encourage reintegration. Interest has become an impediment rather than an incentive to pay. Many offenders simply cannot pay. Only 24% of LFOs are actually paid and this indicates that the system is not working. Ex-felons also need to be given the ability to survive. It will give people a better chance of turning their lives around. LFOs create long-term debt for families. 12% is an egregious interest rate. Offenders are currently burdened with a lifetime of debt. These offenders struggle to find employment and a place to live because credit checks reveal the LFO debt. One-half of cases three years down the road have made no payment. This will increase the collection of restitution. Persons with limited income never get away from their past. LFOs cause hardship for families and communities.

CON: Sixty-six percent of LFOs are paid in full. LFOs hold criminal accountable and fund important state and county programs in the criminal justice system. This will eliminate the ability of offenders to pay LFOs online. Other statutes already prioritize restitution. The court can waive LFOs in appropriate cases. There is no current mechanism to prioritize LFOs in multiple jurisdictions. Interest is an incentive to pay. Often a simple telephone call can help offenders avoid this any hardship that LFOs may cause. Courts can currently waive many LFOs if they cause undue hardship.

Persons Testifying (Law & Justice): Persons Testifying From 2016 Regular Session. PRO: Representative Goodman, Prime Sponsor; Michael Shoemaker, Civil Survivor; Shankar Narayan, ACLU; Michael Fisher, I Did the Time; Tahoti, Black Out Washington; Ardell Shaw, Black Prisoners Care; Tarra Simmons, citizen; Kelly Thompson, Voices for Justice; Dr. Alexis Harris, University of Washington;

CON: Kevin Underwood and Kelsi Hamilton, Washington Collectors Association; Ruth Gordon, Rebecca Johnson, Tawni Sharp, and Staci Myklebust, Washington Association of County Clerks

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): Testimony From 2016 Regular Session on Bill as Amended by Law & Justice. PRO: This is an important bill and the House vote shows there is widespread agreement this is a broken system. Most LFOs are never paid. County collection rate and revenues from LFOs are extremely low. Fiscal impact may be positive if we keep people out of jail. When in jail, people cannot pay and LFOs cannot be collected upon. Bill before you is a recognizes that people are not being well served by criminal justice system. Restitution for victims is not being prioritized as it should. People need a fair chance to reintegrate into society. This is about providing hope and an opportunity to pay their LFOs. Interest at 12% rapidly compounds and accumulates making it extremely difficult to pay. Judges support the bill. LFOs can be waived and interest is waived often but varies county to county; the 12% interest rate is a chimera. Victims of crimes deserve first shot at what is collected.

CON: Fiscal impact is large and bill does nothing to backfill that loss. Prioritizing restitution is fine. Judges can currently waive interest and it happens often. Concerned with drastic financial impact to counties and courts, particularly to district and municipal courts. A large majority of LFOs are paid in full. We collect and disburse a large amount of interest to counties and cities.

Testimony From 2015 Regular Session on Bill as Amended by Law & Justice. PRO: This bill is the result of town hall meetings, community input, and action. We consistently heard from the community that the LFO system needed reform. It exacerbates racial disparity. Offenders cannot fully close out their sentences. Interest rates are a deterrent to payment. We ask for three amendments: (1) interest rate for restitution LFO maintained at 12 percent and non-restitution LFOs at 0 percent; (2) place payment of victim restitution first in the payment scheme; and (3) remove the section that seeks to overturn the Balzina case. LFOs are a crushing burden on a person. The Senate budget reduces grants to counties for LFO collections. Grants are an example of spending dollars to chase dimes. We ask that the Senate make changes to restore bill as it passed the House. I have two sons – one in prison, one out of prison. LFOs has made it difficult for my son out of prison to maintain employment. My son in prison will have a massive debt upon release. The bill as passed the House will help offenders make a successful transition into society. Veterans are an overrepresented population in our prison system. The burden of LFOs are at odds with the investments we need to make in veterans' mental health. Reducing LFOs will allow offenders who are veterans an easier path to reintegrate with society.

OTHER: We prefer the Senate bill alone based on lower fiscal impact to counties. Changes in section 7 on the Balzina case are meaningful to counties; a meaningful determination of ability to pay can be accomplished without an individualized inquiry. First priority of restitution is not being followed. First priority is to the oldest case, not current restitution orders. We do not like de-emphasis on payment of restitution. Ability to pay should be considered, but restitution should be top priority. We ask that the new interest rate apply to new judgments only so to avoid different rates being applied to the same judgment. Duty of inquiry on ability to pay should apply to future judgments, not current judgments.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): Persons Testifying from 2016 Regular Session. PRO: Shankar Narayan, ACLU of Washington; Alex Hur, Statewide Poverty Action Network; Stephen Warning, Superior Court Judges Association; Bob Cooper, WA Defender Assn., WA Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

CON: Kelsi Hamilton, Dynamic Collectors; Chester Baldwin, Washington Collectors Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.

Persons Testifying From 2015 Regular Session. PRO: Alex Hur, Statewide Poverty Action Network; Shankar Narayan, American Civil Liberties Union of WA; Bob Cooper, WA Defenders Assn., WA Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Leo Flor, Deborah Hawley, NW Justice Project.

OTHER: Kevin Underwood, WA Collector's Assn.; Andrea Piper-Wentland, WA Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs; Steven Aldrich, Friends Committee on WA Public Policy; Brian Enslow, WA State Assn. of Counties.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.