Bill > HB1952

This bill makes several changes to Pennsylvania laws related to restitution, fines, and costs in criminal cases. Key provisions include: - Specifying that restitution payments are to be prioritized over the payment of fines or costs. - Requiring courts to consider only a defendant's income in assessing fines and costs, and giving courts the discretion to waive or reduce fines and costs at any time. - Establishing standards for determining a defendant's ability to pay, including that a defendant is considered unable to pay if their income is less than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines or if paying the fines/costs would prevent them from meeting basic life needs. - Providing guidelines for setting installment payment schedules based on the defendant's income level. - Prohibiting incarceration solely due to a defendant's inability to pay, and requiring a hearing before taking any enforcement action for non-payment. - Repealing provisions related to suspending driver's licenses for failure to respond to citations or pay fines/costs. - Making other changes to related laws on sentencing, collection of financial obligations, and driver's license restoration.