BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 676
                                                                  Page 1

          Date of Hearing:   July 7, 2009
          Counsel:                Nicole J. Hanson


                         ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
                                Juan Arambula, Chair

                      SB 676 (Wolk) - As Amended:  June 25, 2009
                       As Proposed to be Amended in Committee


           SUMMARY  :   Increases or eliminates the maximum fee for various  
          services provided by the county, city or court.  Specifically,  
           this bill  :   

          1)Deletes the $15 limitation on the fee that may be charged by a  
            county recorder acting as a filing officer under the Uniform  
            Federal Lien Registration Act when he or she issues a  
            certificate showing whether there is on file any notice of a  
            federal lien or certificate showing whether there is on file  
            any notice of a federal lien or certificate or notice  
            affecting any federal lien filed pursuant to the act or as  
            specified. 

          2)Asks the Department of Fish and Game to impose and collect a  
            fee to defray the costs of managing and protecting fish and  
            wildlife trust resources and authorizes the county clerk to  
            charge a documentary handling fee of $75 per a filing, in  
            addition to the fees charged by the department.

          3)Authorizes the county recorder of each county to charge a fee  
            not to exceed $10 for the first page and $3 for each  
            additional page for recording and indexing every instrument,  
            paper, or notice required or permitted to be recorded, as  
            specified. 

          4)Increases the registration fee to $50 when a defendant is  
            represented by appointed counsel, but the fee shall not be  
            required of any defendant that is financially unable to pay  
            it.  

          5)Provides that if the court orders restitution to be made to  
            the victim, the board of supervisors may add a fee to cover  
            the actual administrative cost of collecting restitution, but  
            not to exceed 15% of the total amount ordered to be paid.  The  








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            fees shall be paid into the general fund of the county  
            treasury for the use and benefit of the county.

          6)Permits the board of supervisors in any county, by resolution,  
            to establish a fee for the processing of payments made in  
            installments to the probation department, not to exceed the  
            administrative and clerical costs of the collection of those  
            installment payments as determined by the board of  
            supervisors, except that the fee shall not exceed $75.

          7)States that a person who petitions for a change of plea or  
            setting aside of a verdict under this section may be required  
            to reimburse the court for the actual costs of services  
            rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the  
            records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by  
            the court, and to reimburse the county for the actual costs of  
            services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and  
            the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined  
            by the county board of supervisors, and to reimburse any city  
            for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the  
            petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at  
            a rate to be determined by the council.  

          8)A person who petitions for an order sealing a record under  
            this section may be required to reimburse the court for the  
            actual cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition  
            is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate  
            to be determined by the court not to exceed $150, and to  
            reimburse the county for the actual cost of services rendered,  
            whether or not the petition is granted and the records are  
            sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the county  
            board of  supervisors not to exceed $150, and to reimburse any  
            city for the actual cost of services rendered, whether or not  
            the petition is granted and the records are sealed or  
            expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council not  
            to exceed $150.  Ability to make this reimbursement shall be  
            determined by the court and shall not be a prerequisite to a  
            person's eligibility under this section.  The court may order  
            reimbursement in a case in which the petitioner appears to  
            have the ability to pay, without undue hardship, all or any  
            portion of the cost for services established pursuant to this  
            subdivision.

          9)Demands that a defendant pay to the clerk of the court or the  
            collecting agency a fee for the processing of installment  








                                                                  AB 676
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            accounts.  This fee shall equal the administrative and  
            clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors.  

          10)Removes the limit on the fee a local agency may charge to  
            take fingerprints and process the required documents of a  
            person who is an applicant for licensing, employment, or  
            certification.

          11)Authorizes a county to levy charges for reasonable costs of  
            support of a minor against the father, mother, spouse or other  
            person, while the minor is placed, or detained in, or  
            committed to, any institution or other place, or pursuant to  
            an order of the juvenile court. Costs of support to actual  
            costs incurred by the county for food and food preparation,  
            clothing, personal supplies, and medical expenses shall not  
            exceed a maximum cost of $30 per day. 

          12)Removes the maximum amount the county board of supervisors or  
            court may charge for filing a petition to seal or expunge a  
            criminal record of a minor. 

          13) Provides that in the event a petition is filed for an order  
            sealing a record, the father, mother, spouse, or other person  
            liable for the support of a minor, that person if he or she is  
            an adult, or the estate of that person, may be required to  
            reimburse the county and court for the actual cost of services  
            rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the  
            records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by  
            the county board of supervisors for the county and by the  
            court for the court, not to exceed $150. 

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Provides that upon the request of any person, the filing  
            officer acting under the Uniform Federal Lien Registration Act  
            shall issue a certificate showing whether there is on file, on  
            the date and hour stated therein, any notice of lien or  
            certificate or notice affecting any lien filed after January  
            1, 1968, naming a particular person, and if a notice or  
            certificate is on file, giving the date and hour of filing of  
            each notice or certificate.  Upon request, the filing officer  
            shall furnish a copy of any notice of federal lien, or notice  
            or certificate affecting a federal lien.  If the filing  
            officer is a county recorder, the fee for a certificate for  
            each name searched shall be set by the filing officer in an  








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            amount that covers actual costs, but that, in no event,  
            exceeds $15, and the fee for copies shall be in accordance  
            with existing law.  If the filing officer is the Secretary of  
            State, the certificate shall be issued as part of a combined  
            certificate, and the fee for the certificate and copies shall  
            be in accordance with that section.  [Code of Civil Procedure  
            Section 2103(d).]

          2)Allows the Department of Fish and Game to impose and collect a  
            fee to defray the costs of managing and protecting fish and  
            wildlife trust resources and authorizes the county clerk to  
            charge a documentary handling fee of $50 per a filing, in  
            addition to the fees charged by the department.  [Fish and  
            Game Code Section 711.4(e).]

          3)Permits the county recorder of each county to charge a fee of  
            $4 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for  
            recording and indexing every instrument, paper, or notice  
            required or permitted to be recorded, as specified.   
            [Government Code Section 27361(a).]

          4)States that every defendant shall be assessed a registration  
            fee not to exceed $25 when represented by appointed counsel.   
            Notwithstanding this subdivision, no fee shall be required of  
            any defendant financially unable to pay the fee.  [Penal Code  
            Section 987.5(a).]

          5)Provides that court orders of restitution to be made to the  
            victim, the board of supervisors may add a fee to cover the  
            actual administrative cost of collecting restitution, but not  
            to exceed 10 percent of the total amount ordered to be paid.   
            The fees shall be paid into the general fund of the county  
            treasury for the use and benefit of the county.  [Penal Code  
            Section 1203.1(l).]

          6)Allows the board of supervisors in any county, by resolution,  
            may establish a fee for the processing of payments made in  
            installments to the probation department pursuant to this  
            section, not to exceed the administrative and clerical costs  
            of the collection of those installment payments as determined  
            by the board of supervisors, except that the fee shall not  
            exceed $50.  [Penal Code Section 1203.1b(h).]

          7)Charges a person who petitions for a change of plea or setting  
            aside of a verdict under this section may be required to  








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            reimburse the court for the actual costs of services rendered,  
            whether or not the petition is granted and the records are  
            sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the court  
            not to exceed $120, and to reimburse the county for the actual  
            costs of services rendered, whether or not the petition is  
            granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to  
            be determined by the county board of supervisors not to exceed  
            $120, and to reimburse any city for the actual costs of  
            services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and  
            the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined  
            by the city council not to exceed $120.  [Penal Code Section  
            1203.4(d).]

          8)Charges person who petitions for an order sealing a record to  
            reimburse the court for the actual cost of services rendered,  
            whether or not the petition is granted and the records are  
            sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the court  
            not to exceed $120,  and to reimburse the county for the  
            actual cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition  
            is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate  
            to be determined by the county board of supervisors not to  
            exceed $120, and to reimburse any city for the actual cost of  
            services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and  
            the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined  
            by the city council not to exceed $120.  [Penal Code Section  
            1203.45(g).]

          9)Requires the defendant to pay to the clerk of the court or the  
            collecting agency a fee for the processing of installment  
            accounts.  This fee shall equal the administrative and  
            clerical costs, as determined by the board of supervisors,  
            except that the fee shall not to exceed $35.  [Penal Code  
            Section 1205(d).]

          10)States that a local agency taking fingerprints of a person  
            who is an applicant for licensing, employment, or  
            certification may charge a fee not to exceed $10 to cover the  
            cost of taking the fingerprints and processing the required  
            documents.  [Penal Code Section 13300(e).]

          11)States legislative intent to protect the fiscal integrity of  
            the county, to protect persons against whom the county seeks  
            to impose liability from excessive charges, to ensure  
            reasonable uniformity throughout the state in the level of  
            liability being imposed, and to ensure that liability is  








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            imposed only on persons with the ability to pay.  In  
            evaluating a family's financial ability to pay under this  
            section, the county shall take into consideration the family's  
            income, the necessary obligations of the family, and the  
            number of persons dependent upon this income.  "Costs of  
            support" as used in this section is defined as only actual  
            costs incurred by the county for food and food preparation,  
            clothing, personal supplies, and medical expenses, not to  
            exceed a combined maximum cost of $15 per day, except that the  
            maximum cost of $15 per day shall be adjusted every third year  
            beginning January 1, 1988, to reflect the percentage change in  
            the calendar year annual average of the California Consumer  
            Price Index, All Urban Consumers, published by the Department  
            of Industrial Relations, for the three-year period.  [Welfare  
            and Institutions Code Section 903(c).]

          12)Necessitates that in the event a petition is filed for an  
            order sealing a record, the father, mother, spouse, or other  
            person liable for the support of a minor, that person if he or  
            she is an adult, or the estate of that person, may be required  
            to reimburse the county and court for the actual cost of  
            services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and  
            the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined  
            by the county board of supervisors for the county and by the  
            court for the court, not to exceed $120.  [Welfare and  
            Institutions Code Section 903.3(b).]

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

           1)Author's Statement  :  According to the author, "In these tough  
            budget times, counties, like the State, are facing severe  
            budget shortfalls.  Local revenues are falling at the same  
            time the State is reducing its support.  Giving counties  
            increased flexibility to manage their own fees is one way to  
            help them cope with this crisis.

          "Senate Bill 676 allows counties to adjust several existing, but  
            outdated fees to levels that cover their costs of providing a  
            particular service.  

          "Existing law authorizes counties to charge a variety of fees.   
            In most cases, a board of supervisors can adjust fees to  
            recover the cost of providing a good or service. 








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          "However, some county fees are set by the state and the  
            Legislature must act each time to change them.  Many county  
            fees set by the state have not been reviewed by the  
            Legislature for 20+ years and no longer cover the cost of  
            providing the service.

          "When a fee-based service does not recover sufficient funds to  
            cover the cost of providing the service, the difference comes  
            out of the county's general fund.  The cost of these services  
            is supposed to be borne by only those using the services, but  
            ends up being subsidized by all taxpayers - including those  
            who never use a particular service.  This, in turn, puts added  
            pressure on county general funds at a time when they need it  
            least.

          "SB 676 gives counties the flexibility to update 15 existing  
            fees that have not updated in at least 20 years.  It retains  
            all existing restrictions that fees only cover the cost of  
            providing the service."  
           
           2)Background  :  According to information provided by the author,  
            "Existing law authorizes counties to charge a variety of fees.  
             In most cases, a board of supervisors can adjust fees to  
            recover the cost of providing a good or service. However, some  
            county fees are set by the state and the Legislature must act  
            each time to change them.  Many county fees set by the state  
            have not been reviewed by the Legislature for 20+ years and no  
            longer cover the cost of providing the service.

          "When a fee-based service does not recover sufficient funds to  
            cover the cost of providing the service, the difference comes  
            out of the county's general fund.  The cost of these services  
            is supposed to be borne by only those using the services, but  
            ends up being subsidized by all taxpayers - including those  
            who never use a particular service."

          3)Penalty Assessments on Criminal Fines  :  Until budget year  
            2002-03, there was 170% in penalty assessments applied to  
            every fine, the current penalty assessments are approximately  
            280%.  (See Penal Code Sections 1464, 1465.7, and 1465.8;  
            Government Code Sections 70372, 7600.5; 76000 et seq., and  
            76104.6.)  This means that the standard misdemeanor fine of up  
            to $1,000 is actually a fine of up to $3,800.  These  
            assessments are in addition to any restitution ordered or any  








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            other fees required.

           4)Federal Lien Certificates  :  Existing law allows county  
            recorders to impose fees of up to $15 to include the costs of  
            furnishing a copy of any notice of federal lien, or notice or  
            certificate affecting a federal lien.  The $15 maximum has not  
            changed since 1983.  This bill deletes the $15 limit, allowing  
            county recorders to set the fee in an amount that covers  
            actual costs. 
                   
           5)Environmental Quality Act Filings  :  Existing law allows county  
            clerks to charge a $50 per filing documentary handling fee for  
            specified filings under the California Environmental Quality  
            Act.  The $50 amount was established in 1992.  This bill  
            increases the maximum charge for a documentary handling fee  
            from $50 to $75.  

          6)Recorded Documents  :  Existing law allows county recorders to  
            charge a filing fee for recording and indexing every  
            instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to  
            be recorded.  The maximum charge is $4 for the recording of  
            the first page and $3 for each additional page, with the  
            ability to charge additional fees, as specified.  The $4  
            maximum has not changed since 1985.  This bill increases the  
            maximum charge for the recording of the first page of a  
            document from $4 to $10.  

           7)Court-Appointed Counsel  :  Existing law allows a county board  
            of supervisors to assess a registration fee of up to $25 on  
            every defendant represented by appointed counsel.  No fee is  
            required of any defendant who is financially unable to pay.   
            The $25 maximum has not changed since 1997.  This bill  
            increases the maximum amount of the fee from $25 to $50. 

           8)Restitution  :  If a court orders that restitution be made to a  
            crime victim, a county board of supervisors may add a fee to  
            include the actual administrative cost of collecting  
            restitution not to exceed 10% of the total amount ordered to  
            be paid.  The fees are paid into the county general fund.  The  
            10% maximum has not changed since 1986.  This bill increases  
            the maximum fee to cover the costs of collecting restitution  
            from 10% to 15% of the total amount ordered to be paid. 

           9)County Probation Department Payments  :  Existing law requires  
            some defendants to pay for the reasonable cost of any  








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            probation supervision or a conditional sentence, of conducting  
            any pre-plea investigation and preparing of any pre-plea  
            report, of conducting any pre-sentence investigation and  
            preparing any pre-sentence report, and of processing a  
            jurisdictional transfer or of processing a request for  
            interstate compact supervision.  A county board of supervisors  
            may establish a fee of up to $50 to cover the administrative  
            and clerical costs of collecting the defendants' payments.   
            The $50 maximum has not changed since 1996.  This bill  
            increases the maximum amount of the fee from $50 to $75. 

           10)Change of Plea, Setting Aside of a Verdict  :  Under existing  
            law, a person who petitions for a change of plea or setting  
            aside of a verdict may be required to reimburse the court, the  
            county, and the city for the actual costs of services  
            rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the  
            records are sealed or expunged.  The court, the county board  
            of supervisors, and the city may determine a rate of up to  
            $120 to reimburse the actual costs.  The $120 maximum has not  
            been changed since 1995.  This bill deletes the $120 maximum,  
            allowing courts, counties, and cities to require reimbursement  
            for the actual costs of services rendered. 

           11)Sealing of Records  :  Under existing law, a person convicted  
            of a misdemeanor when he or she was a minor at the time of the  
            offense and who petitions for an order sealing his or her  
            record may be required to reimburse the court, the county, and  
            the city for the actual costs of services rendered whether or  
            not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or  
            expunged.  The court, the county board of supervisors, and the  
            city may determine a rate of up to $120 to reimburse the  
            actual costs.  The $120 maximum has not changed since 1995.   
            This bill increases the maximum amount of the fee from $120 to  
            $150. 

           12)Installment Payments  :  Under existing law, a person convicted  
            of a misdemeanor and required to pay a fine may pay the fine  
            in specified installments.  A board of supervisors may require  
            defendants to pay to the clerk of the court or the collecting  
            agency a fee of up to $35 to pay for the administrative and  
            clerical costs of processing installment accounts.  The $35  
            maximum has not changed since 1993.  This bill deletes the $35  
            maximum, allowing a board of supervisors to require a fee  
            sufficient to pay for the administrative and clerical costs of  
            processing installment accounts.








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           13)Fingerprinting  :  Existing law allows a local agency taking  
            fingerprints of a person who is an applicant for licensing,  
            employment, or certification to charge up to $10 to cover the  
            cost of taking the fingerprints and processing the required  
            documents.  The $10 maximum has not changed since 1987.  This  
            bill deletes the $10 maximum, allowing local agencies to  
            charge a 
          fee sufficient to cover the cost of taking the fingerprints and  
            processing the required documents.

           14)Support of a Minor  :  Existing law requires that the father,  
                                                            mother, spouse, or other person liable for the support of a  
            minor be liable for the reasonable costs of support of the  
            minor while the minor is placed, detained in, or committed to  
            any institution because of delinquency or truancy.  "Costs of  
            support" is defined as only actual costs incurred by the  
            county for food and food preparation, clothing, personal  
            supplies, and medical expenses, not to exceed a combined  
            maximum of costs of $15 per day except that the maximum cost  
            of $15 per day must be adjusted every third year beginning  
            January 1, 1988 to reflect the percentage change in the  
            calendar year annual average of the California Consumer Price  
            Index, All Urban Consumers, published by the Department of  
            Industrial Relations, for the three-year period.  The $15  
            maximum has not changed since 1985.  This bill increases the  
            maximum cost to $30 per day adjusted every third year. 

           15)Sealing of Juvenile Records  :  Existing law allows counties  
            and courts to require specified people to reimburse them up to  
            $120 for the costs of services rendered for any investigation  
            related to the sealing and for the sealing of any juvenile  
            court or arrest records whether or not the petition is granted  
            and the records are sealed or expunged.  The $120 maximum has  
            not changed since 1995.  This bill increases the maximum of  
            the fee from $120 to $150.

           16)Argument in Support  :  According to the  Contra Costa County  
            Board of Supervisors  , "SB 676 does not allow county  
            supervisors to charge new fees.  It simply lets county  
            governments charge the people who use county services fees  
            that reflect the actual costs of providing those services.

          "There are county fees set by the state that are intended to  
            cover the costs of providing a service but are held by the  








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            state at levels that, in many cases, have not been updated in  
            20 to 30 years.  Many of the county fees set by the state do  
            not even cover the cost of providing the service.  When that  
            is the case, counties have to draw from their general fund to  
            make up the difference.

          "The cost of these services is supposed to be borne by those  
            using them, but it ends up being subsidized by all taxpayers,  
            including t hose who never use a particular service.  That, in  
            turn, puts pressure on critical services paid for using the  
            county general fund such as law enforcement, libraries, and  
            health services.

          "The Legislature should completely deregulate county fees by  
            repealing all of the specific statutory rules.  However, until  
            that occurs, SB 676 is a critical advancement in counties'  
            abilities to recover our costs of doing business."

           17)Argument in Opposition  :  According to the  California Public  
            Defenders Association  (CPDA), "SB 676 is an attempt to  
            generate fees for the courts and criminal justice agencies  
            during a time of budgetary crisis.  One underlying premise of  
            SB 676 is that the increased fees, removal of caps and  
            determination by entities of the actual costs of  
            administrative oversight over collections will lead to an  
            increase in the rate of actual collections. 

          "CPDA understands the need to generate revenue for the courts  
            and the various agencies that comprise the criminal justice  
            system.  However, CPDA  opposes  SB 676 because, in actuality,  
            SB 676 places the onus on the backs of indigent defendants in  
            criminal cases and will cause courts to be clogged with  
            hundreds if not thousands of additional court appearances  
            litigating numerous provisions of SB 676 in the following  
            areas. 

             a)   "  Costs related to Probation Supervision
              
               i)     "Section 9 of SB 676 would amend Penal Code   
                 1203.1b(h) to remove the existing $50 cap on fees  
                 criminal defendants pay to probation for the  
                 administrative and clerical costs involved in processing  
                 the collection of installment payments as determined by  
                 the board of supervisors.









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               ii)    "Under existing Section 1203.1b(a), the court shall  
                 order the defendant to appear before the probation  
                 officer to make in inquiry into the ability of the  
                 defendant to pay all or a portion of these costs.   
                 Probation determines the amount of payment and the manner  
                 in which the payments shall be made to the county, based  
                 upon the defendant's ability to pay.

               iii)   "Defendants are entitled to a hearing that includes  
                 the right to counsel, in which the court shall make a  
                 determination of the defendant's ability to pay and the  
                 payment amount. 

             b)   "  CPDA Concerns
              
               i)     "Defendants now often waive hearings to determine  
                 ability to pay and allow Probation to determine actual  
                 costs of probation supervision and the defendant's  
                 ability to pay as defined under section (e) of 1203.1b.

               ii)    "SB 676 would cause defenders to insist on court  
                 hearings for their indigent clients to determine both  
                 ability to pay as well as actual costs of probation  
                 supervision.  In many counties, probation departments  
                 insist that defendants sign a form waiving the client's  
                 right to a judicial hearing on probation fees.  In order  
                 to protect the rights of indigent clients, defenders will  
                 increase court filings at time of sentencing indicating  
                 that clients will not waive the right to a judicial  
                 hearing. 

               iii)   "Indigent defendants who are only able to afford  
                 lower adjusted monthly probation supervision and  
                 restitution payments, for example, would be  
                 disproportionately penalized. 

                  (1)       "  Example under current law  :  Assume under  
                    current law that Person A owes $1,000 and based on  
                    ability to pay, he owes $100 a month plus $50 per  
                    month for clerical processing under existing law.  In  
                    10 months, Person A would owe $1,000 + $500 for  
                    payment processing. 

                  (2)       "  Example under SB 676  :  Person B also owes  
                    $1,000 and based on ability to pay, he owes $50 per  








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                    month.  Nothing in the bill would prevent a county  
                    board of supervisors from setting an administrative  
                    fee for payment processing of $100/month.  Person B  
                    would take 20 months to pay off $1,000, and would owe  
                    an additional $2,000 in payment processing costs to  
                    Probation.

             c)   "  Administrative Costs of Restitution Collection Would  
               Increase under SB 676 and Actual Restitution for Victims  
               will Decrease
              
               i)     "Section 8 of SB 676 would amend Penal Code   
                 1203.1(l) to allow county board of supervisors to  
                 increase the maximum fee for administrative costs of  
                 collecting restitution  not to exceed 10% to 15% of the  
                 total amount paid.   Such funds would continue to be paid  
                 into the general fund of the county treasury for the use  
                 and benefit of the county.  All other provisions in  
                 Section 1203.1 would remain the same. 

               ii)    "  CPDA Concerns  

                  (1)       "If a defendant owes direct restitution in an  
                    amount of $1,000, the administrative collection fee  
                    would increase from $100 to $150.

                  (2)       "But in many other cases, restitution quickly  
                    adds up to an amount closer to $5,000, $10,000 or  
                    more.  So on $5,000 of direct restitution owed, the  
                    proposed 15% administrative fee would be $750 and  
                    $1,500 respectively. 

                    (a)         "Victims owed direct restitution will  
                      likely see a decrease in actual restitution  
                      recouped. 

                    (b)         "Restitution hearings would still take  
                      place to litigate the actual amount of restitution  
                      owed in a particular case.

                    (c)         "Computer systems would need to be created  
                      to ensure that the administrative fees were properly  
                      credited.

                    (d)         "Current law prioritizes direct  








                                                                  AB 676
                                                                  Page 14

                      restitution to victims before other fines or fees  
                      are paid.

                    (e)         "In LA County and in most jurisdictions,  
                      Probation would bill for the administrative costs of  
                      collecting restitution.

                    (f)         "An incentive exists for Probation to  
                      increase the estimate of overall restitution owed  
                      because the result would be a higher percentage  
                      collection on administrative costs as well. 

                    (g)         "While many criminal defendants now agree  
                      at time of sentencing to allow Probation to  
                      determine the actual costs of restitution, SB 676  
                      would cause courts to be clogged with endless  
                      hearings, challenging the actual costs of  
                      restitution and the ability to pay both restitution  
                      and the administrative fees to collect restitution.   
                      Much less actual restitution will be collected and  
                      delivered to victims, as defendants who themselves  
                      lack income or steady employment will be overwhelmed  
                      by the increased costs and fall back on jail time to  
                      satisfy fines owed. 

               iii)   " Sealing of Juvenile Records
                
                  (1)       "Section 15 of SB 676 would amend Welfare and  
                    Institutions Code  903.3(b) to  remove the $120 cap on  
                    the costs required to reimburse the county or court  
                    for the actual cost of services rendered, whether or  
                    not the petition is granted and the records are sealed  
                    or expunged,  at a rate to be determined by the county  
                    board of supervisors for the county and by the court  
                    for the court.  All other language in this section  
                    would remain the same, including the requirement that  
                    the court determine ability to make this reimbursement  
                    using the standards set forth in paragraph (2) of  
                    subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and barring payment  
                    as a prerequisite to a person's eligibility under this  
                    section. 

               iv)    "  Costs to Parents/Guardians/Adult Caretakers of  
                 Children Housed in Juvenile Delinquiency Facilities
                








                                                                  AB 676
                                                                  Page 15

                  (1)       "CPDA is concerned that the increased costs  
                    borne by families and adult caretakers of children  
                    housed or detained in the juvenile delinquency system  
                    will result in increased additional hearings to  
                    litigate the 'actual cost of services' rendered,  
                    including requests for appointments of budget experts.  
                     Section 14 of SB 676 would [sic] Welfare and  
                    Institutions Code [(WIC)] 903 to increase from a  
                    maximum of $15 per day to a maximum of $45 per day,  
                    the amount that a county [sic] charge for the  
                    reasonable costs of support of a minor against the  
                    father, mother, spouse, or other person, while the  
                    minor is placed, or detained in, or committed to, any  
                    institution or other place, or pursuant to an order of  
                    the juvenile court. 

                  (2)       "Subdivision (c) of WIC 903 currently states  
                    that it is the intent of the Legislature in enacting  
                    this subdivision to protect the fiscal integrity of  
                    the county, to protect persons against whom the county  
                    seeks to impose liability form excessive charges, to  
                    ensure reasonable uniformity throughout the state in  
                    the level of liability being imposed, and to ensure  
                    that liability is imposed only on persons with the  
                    ability to pay.  In evaluating a family's financial  
                    ability to pay under this section, the county shall  
                    take into consideration the family's income, the  
                    necessary obligations of the family, and the number of  
                    persons dependent upon this income. 

                  (3)       "SB 676 would raise the ceiling in Section  
                    903(c)  from a combined maximum cost of $15 per day to  
                    $45 per day  for costs of support, which mean only  
                    actual costs incurred by the county for food and food  
                    preparation, clothing, personal supplies, and medical  
                    expenses.

                  (4)       "SB 676 would allow the maximum cost  
                    (increased from $15) of $45 per day, to be adjusted  
                    every third year beginning January 1, 1988, to reflect  
                    the percentage change in the calendar year annual  
                    average of the California Consumer Price Index, All  
                    Urban Consumers, published by the Department of  
                    Industrial Relations, for the three-year period. 









                                                                  AB 676
                                                                  Page 16

                  (5)       "SB 676 does not contain critical [sic] needed  
                    language to protect indigent families/guardians of  
                    minors detained or housed in a facility pursuant to  
                    order of a juvenile court.  Most families of children  
                    in juvenile hall and other juvenile facilities are too  
                    poor to pay the costs of support, and no current  
                    statutory protections for indigent parents and  
                    guardians exist."

           18)Prior Legislation  : 

             a)   SB 251 (Ayala), Chapter 389, Statutes of 1996, increased  
               the revenue for indigent defense services by requiring a  
               registration fee be assessed against defendants and the  
               parents of juvenile offenders who are represented by the  
               public defender or court-appointed counsel. 

             b)   AB 594 (Boland), Chapter 36, Statutes of 1996, raised  
               the maximum amount of the fee to be charged to a defendant  
               for a payment installment plan from $35 to $50 for the cost  
               of any probation supervision or a conditional sentence, any  
               pre-plea investigation and preparing of any pre-plea  
               report, any pre-sentence investigation and preparing any  
               pre-sentence report and of processing a jurisdictional  
               transfer or of processing a request for interstate compact  
               supervision.

             c)   AB 1327 (Epple), Chapter 882, Statutes of 1995,  
               increased the cap on fees a city or county may charge  a  
               person who petitions for a change of plea, setting aside a  
               verdict or  sealing a record from $60 to $120.  AB 1327  
               also authorized counties to charge up to $120 for the cost  
               of sealing various juvenile court records.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          California State Association of Counties
          Chief Probation Officers of California
          Coalition of Probation Organizations
          Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
          Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
          Placer County Board of Supervisors
          San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors








                                                                  AB 676
                                                                  Page 17

          San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
          Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
          Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
          Yolo County Board of Supervisors
           
            Opposition 
           
          California Public Defenders Association 


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Nicole J. Hanson / PUB. S. / (916)  
          319-3744