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2021 Florida Statutes (Including 2021B Session)
Chapter 939
COSTS
COSTS
CHAPTER 939
COSTS
939.02 Costs before committing trial court judge.
939.03 Execution for costs in capital cases.
939.04 Execution for costs in other cases.
939.06 Acquitted defendant not liable for costs.
939.08 Costs to be certified before audit.
939.09 Sheriff’s mileage.
939.11 Unnecessary charge for confining prisoner not to be allowed.
939.12 Cost against state in Supreme Court.
939.13 Power of Chief Financial Officer.
939.14 County not to pay costs in cases where information is not filed or indictment found.
939.17 Application of cash deposit to fine and costs.
939.185 Assessment of additional court costs and surcharges.
939.02 Costs before committing trial court judge.—All costs accruing before a committing trial court judge shall be taxed against the defendant on conviction or estreat of recognizance.
History.—s. 3, ch. 1949, 1873; RS 2984; GS 4058; RGS 6162; CGL 8476; s. 42, ch. 2004-11.
939.03 Execution for costs in capital cases.—In all capital cases the costs in case of conviction shall be entered up against the prisoner, and the bill of costs, when taxed by the clerk and certified in the manner required by law to give a bill of costs the force of an execution, shall have the force of an execution, and may be levied upon any property of the prisoner found in the state. If the sheriff shall return said bill to the office of the clerk and make affidavit thereon that sufficient property cannot be found to pay the same, and shall state in the affidavit the amount left unpaid after exhausting all the property found, the bill, or the balance unpaid thereon, shall then be audited according to law and such amount shall be paid out of the county treasury.
History.—s. 7, ch. 159, 1848; RS 2985; GS 4059; RGS 6163; CGL 8477.
939.04 Execution for costs in other cases.—In all cases less than capital, wherein the defendant may be adjudged to pay costs, a capias may be issued, as is provided for the collection of fines and forfeitures.
History.—s. 5, ch. 217, 1849; RS 2986; GS 4060; RGS 6164; CGL 8478.
939.06 Acquitted defendant not liable for costs.—
(1) A defendant in a criminal prosecution who is acquitted or discharged is not liable for any costs or fees of the court or any ministerial office, or for any charge of subsistence while detained in custody. If the defendant has paid any taxable costs, or fees required under s. 27.52(1)(b), in the case, the clerk or judge shall give him or her a certificate of the payment of such costs, with the items thereof, which, when audited and approved according to law, shall be refunded to the defendant.
(2) To receive a refund under this section, a defendant must submit a request for the refund to the Justice Administrative Commission on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commission. The defendant must attach to the form an order from the court demonstrating the defendant’s right to the refund and the amount of the refund.
History.—s. 3, ch. 76, 1846; RS 2988; GS 4062; RGS 6166; CGL 8480; s. 44, ch. 73-334; s. 1590, ch. 97-102; s. 131, ch. 2003-402; s. 62, ch. 2005-236.
939.08 Costs to be certified before audit.—In all cases wherein is claimed the payment of applicable bills of costs, fees, or expenses of the state courts system as provided in s. 29.004, other than juror and witness fees, in the adjudication of any case payable by the state, the trial court administrator or the administrator’s designee shall review the itemized bill. The bill shall not be paid until the trial court administrator or the administrator’s designee has approved it and certified that it is just, correct, and reasonable and contains no unnecessary or illegal item.
History.—ss. 3, 5, ch. 3702, 1887; RS 2989; GS 4064; RGS 6168; CGL 8482; s. 44, ch. 73-334; s. 132, ch. 2003-402; s. 34, ch. 2010-162.
939.09 Sheriff’s mileage.—Every sheriff, in presenting a bill for mileage against the state or county, shall certify that no constructive mileage is charged therein.
History.—s. 7, ch. 3702, 1887; RS 2990; GS 4065; RGS 6169; CGL 8483.
939.11 Unnecessary charge for confining prisoner not to be allowed.—No charge for rent of any house for confining a prisoner, or for guarding a prisoner, any longer than may be necessary for transferring such prisoner to jail or place of safekeeping, or during the session of court at which such prisoner shall be arraigned, or to which he or she may be brought for trial, shall be allowed against the state or county.
History.—s. 6, ch. 159, 1848; RS 2992; GS 4067; RGS 6171; CGL 8485; s. 1592, ch. 97-102.
939.12 Cost against state in Supreme Court.—The clerk of the Supreme Court shall give, upon application, a certified copy of any judgment against the state upon appeal in criminal cases, and the state shall pay the same to the appellant, or the appellant’s agent or attorney, on demand.
History.—s. 1, ch. 3266, 1881; RS 2993; GS 4068; RGS 6172; CGL 8486; s. 1593, ch. 97-102; s. 133, ch. 2003-402.
939.13 Power of Chief Financial Officer.—The Chief Financial Officer may audit and approve or disapprove any claim or any item thereof against the state for costs, fees or expenses of criminal cases prosecuted in the name of the state, and for which the state is liable, if the Chief Financial Officer is satisfied that the same is legal, just, necessary and correct or otherwise, and may prescribe forms and methods for the same. The Chief Financial Officer shall not dispense with any of the requirements of law relative to the auditing and payment of such accounts, but may prescribe additional requirements.
History.—s. 8, ch. 3702, 1887; RS 2995; GS 4069; RGS 6173; CGL 8487; s. 1594, ch. 97-102; s. 1926, ch. 2003-261.
939.14 County not to pay costs in cases where information is not filed or indictment found.—When a committing trial court judge holds to bail or commits any person to answer a criminal charge in a county court or a circuit court, and an information is not filed nor an indictment found against such person, the costs of such committing trial shall not be paid by the county, except the costs for executing the warrant.
History.—s. 1, ch. 4123, 1893; GS 4070; RGS 6174; CGL 8488; s. 44, ch. 73-334; s. 43, ch. 2004-11.
939.17 Application of cash deposit to fine and costs.—In any prosecution for an offense against the state or any political subdivision thereof, when money has been deposited by or on behalf of the defendant upon a judgment for the payment of a fine and costs, the clerk shall, under the direction of the court, apply the money deposited in satisfaction of such fine and costs and return the remainder to the depositor.
History.—s. 1, ch. 72-235.
939.185 Assessment of additional court costs and surcharges.—
(1)(a) The board of county commissioners may adopt by ordinance an additional court cost, not to exceed $65, to be imposed by the court when a person pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any felony, misdemeanor, delinquent act, or criminal traffic offense under the laws of this state. Such additional assessment shall be accounted for separately by the county in which the offense occurred and be used only in the county imposing this cost, to be allocated as follows:
1. Twenty-five percent of the amount collected shall be allocated to fund innovations, as determined by the chief judge of the circuit, to supplement state funding for the elements of the state courts system identified in s. 29.004 and county funding for local requirements under s. 29.008(2)(a)2.
2. Twenty-five percent of the amount collected shall be allocated to assist counties in providing legal aid programs required under s. 29.008(3)(a).
3. Twenty-five percent of the amount collected shall be allocated to fund personnel and legal materials for the public as part of a law library.
4. Twenty-five percent of the amount collected shall be used as determined by the board of county commissioners to support teen court programs, except as provided in s. 938.19(7), juvenile assessment centers, and other juvenile alternative programs.
Each county receiving funds under this section shall report the amount of funds collected pursuant to this section and an itemized list of expenditures for all authorized programs and activities. The report shall be submitted in a format developed by the Supreme Court to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a quarterly basis beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2004. Quarterly reports shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter. Any unspent funds at the close of the county fiscal year allocated under subparagraphs 2., 3., and 4., shall be transferred for use pursuant to subparagraph 1.
(b) In addition to the court costs imposed under paragraph (a) and any other cost, fine, or penalty imposed by law, any unit of local government which is consolidated as provided by s. 9, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1968, and which is granted the authority in the State Constitution to exercise all the powers of a municipal corporation, and any unit of local government operating under a home rule charter adopted pursuant to ss. 10, 11, and 24, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1968, which is granted the authority in the State Constitution to exercise all the powers conferred now or hereafter by general law upon municipalities, may impose by ordinance a surcharge in the amount of $85 to be imposed by the court when a person pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, or adjudicated delinquent for, any felony, misdemeanor, delinquent act, or criminal traffic offense under the laws of this state. Revenue from the surcharge shall be transferred to such unit of local government for the purpose of replacing fine revenue deposited into the clerk’s fine and forfeiture fund under s. 142.01. Proceeds from the imposition of the surcharge authorized in this paragraph shall not be used for the purpose of securing payment of the principal and interest on bonds.
(c) The disbursement of costs collected under this section shall be subordinate in priority order of disbursement to all other state-imposed costs authorized in this chapter, restitution or other compensation to victims, and child support payments.
(d) The clerk of court shall cause a certified copy of the court order imposing such costs to be recorded in the public records. Such record constitutes a lien against the person upon whom the costs are imposed and shall attach as a lien on any real property owned by such person located in the county in which such order is recorded in the same manner and to the same extent as a judgment recorded as provided in s. 55.10. Such order shall attach as a lien on any personal property owned by such person located in the state upon the filing with the Department of State of a judgment lien certificate regarding such order as provided in ss. 55.202-55.209. A lien created under this paragraph does not attach to, or make subject to execution of levy or foreclosure, any real or personal property otherwise exempt under s. 4, Art. X of the State Constitution. A lien created under this paragraph is enforceable in the same manner as provided by law.
(2) The court shall order a person to pay the additional court cost. If the person is determined to be indigent, the clerk shall defer payment of this cost.
History.—s. 88, ch. 2004-265; ss. 63, 72, ch. 2005-236; s. 3, ch. 2007-71; s. 14, ch. 2009-61; s. 10, ch. 2009-215; s. 35, ch. 2010-162.