The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard HB 1087, sponsored by Sen. Bohacek, regarding the payment of court fees in criminal cases. The bill allows a court to reduce some or all of the court costs owed by a person who performs community service or uncompensated volunteer work by: (1) determining the number of hours of community service or volunteer work performed by the person; (2) multiplying the number of hours worked by the Indiana minimum wage; and (3) deducting that figure from the amount owed.
The bill was amended by consent to eliminate credit towards fees for community service performed as a term of sentence or probation. The Indiana Public Defender Council and a former incarcerated citizen testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 7-1.
Read the bill at: http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1087