Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee
HB 2251
Brief Description: Concerning the disposition of unenforceable legal financial obligations other than restitution imposed by a court or an agent of the court against a juvenile prior to July 1, 2023.
Sponsors: Representatives Cortes, Eslick, Ormsby, Reed and Fosse.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Renders any judgments against a juvenile for legal financial obligations other than restitution that were imposed before July 1, 2023 null and void, and considered satisfied and paid in full by July 1, 2025.
Hearing Date: 1/16/24
Staff:

Luke Wickham
Background:

Juvenile Legal Financial Obligations.

Legal financial obligations (LFOs) are fees costs or other amounts that a person is obligated to pay when that person is convicted of a criminal offense or adjudicated of a juvenile offense.  LFOs can include victim restitution, court costs, costs associated with the person's prosecution and sentence, criminal offense fines, and other fees, penalties, and assessments.

 

Beginning last year, courts or agent of the court are prohibited from imposing or collecting fines, administrative fees, costs, or surcharges against any juvenile or a juvenile's parent or guardian, or other person having custody of the juvenile, in connection with any juvenile offender proceeding.

 

Judgments against a juvenile for LFOs other than restitution are not enforceable, and the superior court clerk must not accept any non-restitution LFO payments from a juvenile. 
Summary of Bill:

Any judgments against a juvenile for legal financial obligations other than restitution that were imposed before July 1, 2023 (which are unenforceable) are rendered null and void, and considered satisfied and paid in full by July 1, 2025.  The Administrative Office of the Courts is authorized to take the necessary steps to render these juvenile legal financial obligations null and void.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.