HB 2023

If a county elects to establish a program to assist victims of crime , present law requires the clerks of all courts of general sessions, circuit and criminal courts, municipal courts exercising general sessions court jurisdiction and any other court exercising similar criminal jurisdiction to collect a victims assistance assessment of $45 from any person who does or is any of the following :  Enters a plea of guilty .  Is found guilty by a judge or jury .  Enters a plea of nolo contendere .  Enters a plea pursuant to diversionary sentencing .  I s found to be criminally responsible as principal for the commission of a criminal offense , except for c rimes that have a maximum fine of less than $500 and no imprisonment .  I s found to be criminally responsible as principal for the commission of a criminal offense , except for v iolations of the motor vehicle laws, excluding DUIs or reckless driving, where the reckless driving was proximately caused by the use of an intoxicant. This bill increases from $45 to $125 the victims assistance assessment placed on an individual as outlined above. ALLOCATION OF ASSESSMENT Present law requires that the first $3 of the $45 assessment be paid to the clerk of the court imposing the assessment for processing and handling. The remaining $42 must be transmitted to the county in which the offense occurred, for the exclusive use of the victims assistance program previously designated by the county legislative body. This bill, instead, requires the first $15 of each assessment to be paid to the clerk of the court imposing the assessment for processing and handling. The remaining $110 must be transmitted to the county in which the offense occurred for the exclusive use of the victims assistance program previously designated by th e county legislative body.