Smith Offers Court Fee Intercept Bill
Smith Offers Court Fee Intercept Bill
June 15th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) has introduced legislation (S. 3512) that will allow state courts to intercept federal tax refunds of individuals who have unpaid debts to state court, such as a DUI fine. Annually, millions of dollars in court-ordered fines, fees, and victim restitution goes uncollected. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).
"Financially-strapped courts need a way to collect on debts that are rightly due to a crime victim or to the court," Smith said. "Intercepting tax refunds is an efficient way to collect money criminals owe. The influx of funding will go to victims, help courts enforce court orders, and create revenue that could be returned to a state's treasury."
Many state courts already intercept federal tax returns to pay for child support debts. In FY 2004, Oregon courts collected approximately $2 million in child support from state taxes; however, they were able to collect $14 million from federal taxes. The legislation would provide state courts with an effective way to collect unpaid debts to the court such as drunken driving fees. In FY 2004 alone, Oregon courts reported $439 million in delinquent fines, fees, surcharges and restitution.
Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice J. Paul DeMuniz added, "This will increase the enforcement of court orders, and by doing so, increase the collections of court ordered fines, fees and victim restitution. This bill helps enforce our system of justice and ensure that defendants meet their obligations."
The legislation has the support of a broad coalition including: Conference of Chief Justices, Conference of State Court Administrators, National Association for Court Management, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties, Government Finance Officers Association, and the American Probation and Parole Association.
http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=223&Month=6&Year=2006