Bill

Bill > S03979


NY S03979

Eliminates court surcharges and fees and probation and parole surcharges and fees; eliminates the requirement that a parolee or releasee receiving a merit termination of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution; eliminates the requirement that a person receiving a discharge of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of certain surcharges or fees (Part A); prohibits mandatory minimum fines for penal law and vehicle and traffic


summary

Introduced
02/01/2021
In Committee
01/05/2022
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

2021-2022 General Assembly

Bill Summary

AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, the executive law, the correction law, the vehicle and traffic law, the village law and the state finance law, in relation to eliminating court surcharges and fees; and to repeal certain provisions of the penal law, the vehicle and traffic law, the correction law, the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, the executive law and the environmental conservation law relating thereto (Part A); to amend the penal law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting mandatory minimum fines for penal law and vehicle and traffic offenses (Part B); to amend the penal law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to mandating that courts engage in an individualized assessment of a person's financial ability to pay a fine prior to imposing a fine (Part C); to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to eliminating the availability of incarceration as a remedy for a failure to pay a fine, surcharge or fee, lifting and vacating all existing warrants issued solely based on a person's failure to timely pay a fine, surcharge or fee and ending all existing sentences of incarceration based on such failure; and to repeal certain provisions of the criminal procedure law relating thereto (Part D); in relation to vacating all existing unsatisfied civil judgments entered solely based on a person's failure to timely pay a surcharge or fee and to repeal certain provisions of the criminal procedure law relating thereto (Part E); to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to prohibiting the collection of a fine, restitution or reparation from the funds of an incarcerated person; and to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting the payment of court fines, mandatory surcharges, certain fees, restitution, reparation or forfeitures from the earnings of prisoners (Part F); to amend the correction law, in relation to eliminating the requirement that a parolee or releasee receiving a merit termination of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution; and to amend the executive law, in relation to eliminating the requirement that a person receiving a discharge of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of certain surcharges or fees (Part G); and in relation to vacating all existing unpaid surcharges, DNA databank fees, crime victim assistance fees, sexual offender registration fees, or supplemental sex offender victim fees; and to repeal subdivision 3 of section 420.30 of the criminal procedure law relating to restrictions on remitting such fees (Part H)

AI Summary

This bill enacts several major components to end the unfair financial burdens on defendants in criminal, vehicle and traffic, or other types of criminal or quasi-criminal matters. The key provisions are: 1. It repeals mandatory court surcharges, fees, and probation/parole surcharges and fees. It also eliminates the requirement that a parolee or releasee be financially able to comply with an order of restitution to receive a merit termination of sentence, and that a person receiving a discharge of sentence be financially able to comply with an order of restitution and payment of certain fees. 2. It prohibits mandatory minimum fines for penal law and vehicle and traffic offenses. 3. It requires courts to engage in an individualized assessment of a person's financial ability to pay a fine prior to imposing a fine. 4. It eliminates the availability of incarceration as a remedy for failure to pay a fine, surcharge, or fee, and vacates all existing warrants or unsatisfied civil judgments issued solely based on failure to timely pay such amounts. 5. It prohibits the collection of fines, restitution, or reparation from the funds of an incarcerated person. 6. It vacates all existing orders for payment of surcharges, fees, restitution, or forfeitures by defendants.

Committee Categories

Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (23)

Last Action

REFERRED TO CODES (on 01/05/2022)

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