The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 302 authored by Sen. Tallian establishing a procedure for a criminal court to use in indigency determinations. The bill provides that, if a court ordered a defendant to pay part of the cost of representation, the court shall inquire at sentencing whether the defendant has paid the required amount and specifies that a court may prorate fines, fees, and court costs based on the person’s reasonable ability to pay.
The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in support of the bill. The bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at: http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2020/bills/senate/302.