The Florida Senate

142.01  Fine and forfeiture fund; disposition of revenue; clerk of the circuit court.

142.02  Levy of a special tax.

142.03  Disposition of fines, forfeitures, and civil penalties to municipalities.

142.09  If defendant is not convicted or dies.

142.15  Prisoner confined in different county.

142.16  Change of venue.

142.01  Fine and forfeiture fund; disposition of revenue; clerk of the circuit court.--

(1)  There shall be established by the clerk of the circuit court in each county of this state a separate fund to be known as the fine and forfeiture fund for use by the clerk of the circuit court in performing court-related functions. The fund shall consist of the following:

(a)  Fines and penalties pursuant to ss. 28.2402(2), 34.045(2), 316.193, 327.35, 327.72, 379.2203(1), and 775.083(1).

(b)  That portion of civil penalties directed to this fund pursuant to s. 318.21.

(c)  Court costs pursuant to ss. 28.2402(1)(b), 34.045(1)(b), 318.14(10)(b), 318.18(11)(a), 327.73(9)(a) and (11)(a), and 938.05(3).

(d)  Proceeds from forfeited bail bonds, unclaimed bonds, unclaimed moneys, or recognizances pursuant to ss. 321.05(4)(a), 379.2203(1), and 903.26(3)(a).

(e)  Fines and forfeitures pursuant to s. 34.191.

(f)  All other revenues received by the clerk as revenue authorized by law to be retained by the clerk.

(2)  All revenues received by the clerk in the fine and forfeiture fund from court-related fees, fines, costs, and service charges are considered state funds and shall be remitted monthly to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Clerks of the Court Trust Fund within the Justice Administrative Commission.

(3)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, all fines and forfeitures arising from operation of the provisions of s. 318.1215 shall be disbursed in accordance with that section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 4323, 1895; s. 1, ch. 4672, 1899; GS 961; RGS 1774; CGL 2825; s. 2, ch. 77-452; s. 1, ch. 82-107; s. 6, ch. 88-381; s. 2, ch. 90-111; s. 1, ch. 94-107; s. 31, ch. 97-271; s. 81, ch. 2003-402; s. 54, ch. 2004-265; s. 42, ch. 2005-236; s. 185, ch. 2008-247; s. 12, ch. 2009-204.

142.02  Levy of a special tax.--The board of county commissioners of every county may levy a special tax, not to exceed 2 mills, upon the real and personal property of the respective counties, to be assessed and collected as other county taxes are assessed and collected, for such costs of criminal prosecutions. Proceeds of the special tax funds shall be paid out only for criminal expenses, fees, and costs, if the crime was committed in the county, and the fees and costs are a legal claim against the county, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any surplus funds remaining from the tax to fund criminal prosecutions at the end of a fiscal year may be transferred to the county general revenue fund.

History.--s. 1, ch. 4323, 1895; s. 1, ch. 4672, 1899; GS 962; RGS 1775; CGL 2826; s. 82, ch. 2003-402.

142.03  Disposition of fines, forfeitures, and civil penalties to municipalities.--Fines, forfeitures, and civil penalties collected in cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, violations of chapter 316 committed within a municipality, or infractions under the provisions of chapter 318 committed within a municipality shall be paid in full each month to the appropriate municipality as provided in ss. 28.2402, 34.045, 316.660, and 318.21.

History.--s. 2, ch. 4323, 1895; s. 1, ch. 5155, 1903; GS 963; RGS 1776; CGL 2827; s. 20, ch. 73-334; s. 2, ch. 76-31; s. 2, ch. 77-452; s. 7, ch. 88-381; s. 3, ch. 89-297; s. 2, ch. 90-111; s. 2, ch. 94-107; s. 32, ch. 97-271; s. 83, ch. 2003-402; s. 55, ch. 2004-265.

142.09  If defendant is not convicted or dies.--If the defendant is not convicted, or the prosecution is abated by the death of the defendant, or if the costs are imposed on the defendant and execution against him or her is returned no property found, or if a nolle prosse be entered, in each of these cases the fees of witnesses and officers arising from criminal causes shall be paid by the state in the manner specified in s. 40.29; provided, that when a committing trial court judge holds to bail or commits a person to answer to a criminal charge and an information is not filed or an indictment found against such person, the costs and fees of such committing trial shall not be paid by the state, except the costs of executing the warrants.

History.--ss. 3, 7, ch. 4323, 1895; GS 970; RGS 1782; CGL 2833; s. 847, ch. 95-147; s. 6, ch. 2004-11; s. 56, ch. 2004-265.

142.15  Prisoner confined in different county.--Where the prisoner is confined in the jail of a different county from the one in which the crime was committed, then the sheriff's bill for feeding such prisoner shall be presented to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been committed, and paid by such county. If the sheriff should subsequently collect any such fees for feeding a prisoner, he or she shall pay the same to the county in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

History.--s. 9, ch. 4323, 1895; ch. 4527, 1897; GS 977; RGS 1788; CGL 2839; s. 851, ch. 95-147; s. 84, ch. 2003-402.

142.16  Change of venue.--In case of change of venue in any case, all fines and forfeitures in such case go to the clerk in the county in which the case was adjudicated.

History.--s. 10, ch. 4323, 1895; GS 978; RGS 1789; CGL 2840; s. 85, ch. 2003-402.