SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 200

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  Senator Klein moved the following amendment:

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13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         Delete everything after the enacting clause

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16  and insert:

17         Section 1.  Section 938.35, Florida Statutes, is

18  created to read:

19         938.35  Collection of court-related financial

20  obligations.--Any provision of law notwithstanding, a county

21  may pursue the collection of any fines, court costs, or other

22  costs imposed by the court which remain unpaid for 90 days or

23  more, or refer such collection to a private attorney who is a

24  member in good standing of The Florida Bar or collection agent

25  who is registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter

26  559. In pursuing the collection of such unpaid financial

27  obligations through a private attorney or collection agent,

28  the governing body of the county must determine that such

29  collection is cost-effective and the county must follow

30  applicable procurement practices. The costs of collection,

31  including a reasonable attorney's fee, may be recovered,

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    3:56 PM   04/06/98                                s0200c-28k7y




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. SB 200

    Amendment No.    





 1  except that such fines and costs of collection may not exceed

 2  40 percent of the total fines and costs owed.

 3         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

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 6  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

 7  And the title is amended as follows:

 8         Delete everything before the enacting clause

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10  and insert:

11                      A bill to be entitled

12         An act relating to fines and court costs;

13         creating s. 938.35, F.S.; providing that a

14         county may assign the collection of fines,

15         court costs, and other costs imposed by the

16         court arising from offenses committed in the

17         county and remaining unpaid after a certain

18         period to a private attorney or collection

19         agency under specified circumstances; providing

20         guide lines and procedures; providing

21         attorney's fees to offset collection costs;

22         providing a limitation; providing an effective

23         date.

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    3:56 PM   04/06/98                                s0200c-28k7y