S-2133               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6085

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Vognild

Read first time 3/3/89 and referred to Committee on  Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to use of collection agencies by courts of limited jurisdiction; and amending RCW 3.02.045.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 266, Laws of 1987 and RCW 3.02.045 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Courts of limited jurisdiction may use collection agencies under chapter 19.16 RCW for purposes of collecting unpaid penalties on infractions, criminal fines, costs, assessments, civil judgments, or forfeitures that have been imposed by the courts.  Courts of limited jurisdiction may enter into agreements with one or more attorneys or collection agencies for collection of outstanding penalties, fines, costs, assessments, and forfeitures.  These agreements may specify the scope of work, remuneration for services, and other charges deemed appropriate.

          (2) Courts of limited jurisdiction may use credit cards for purposes of billing and collecting unpaid penalties, fines, costs, assessments, and forfeitures so imposed.  Courts of limited jurisdiction may enter into agreements with one or more financial institutions for the purpose of the collection of penalties, fines, costs, assessments, and forfeitures.  The agreements may specify conditions, remuneration for services, and other charges deemed appropriate.

          (3) Servicing of delinquencies by collection agencies or by collecting attorneys in which the court retains control of its delinquencies shall not constitute assignment of debt.

          (4) For purposes of this section, the term debt shall include penalties, fines, costs, assessments, or forfeitures imposed by the courts.

          (5) The court may assess as court costs the moneys paid for remuneration for services or charges paid to collecting attorneys, to collection agencies, or, in the case of credit cards, to financial institutions.

(6) A county or city legislative authority may enact a local ordinance or resolution providing for the collection of debts at least three months past due owed to a court of limited jurisdiction by the transfer of the debts to collection agencies retained under RCW 19.16.500.