FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5956

                          C 262 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Collecting unpaid court obligations.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Strannigan, Rinehart, Hargrove, Smith, Schow, Prentice, Hochstatter, Wojahn, Haugen, Sheldon, Gaspard, Deccio, Spanel, Morton, Pelz, Franklin, Bauer, Kohl, Sutherland, Palmer, McDonald, Wood, A. Anderson, Owen, McAuliffe, Fraser, Long, West, Oke and Winsley.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

House Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  Courts impose various fines, fees and penalties on defendants.  When defendants fail to fulfill the terms of a court order, superior court clerks may use county collection services or contract with collection agencies to collect the moneys owed.  The cost of collecting the unpaid fines, fees and penalties are paid by the defendants.  If a criminal offender is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, counties only may collect the moneys with the approval of the department.

Concern has been expressed that the statute does not explicitly authorize a superior court judge to impose the cost of collecting unpaid court obligations.

Summary:  The statute authorizing counties to collect unpaid court obligations is clarified.

A superior court judge is authorized, at the time of sentencing or within ten years, to assess as court costs moneys paid to collect unpaid court-ordered legal financial obligations.  Superior court clerks are encouraged to initiate collection action against criminal offenders.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    46 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995