HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                  Bill No. HB 3303

    Amendment No.     (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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 5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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11  Representative(s) Brown offered the following:

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13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14  remove from the bill:  Everything after the enacting clause

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16  and insert in lieu thereof:

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, or refer any such collections

23  which remain unpaid for 90 days or more, to a private attorney

24  who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar or

25  collection agent who is registered and in good standing

26  pursuant to chapter 559. In pursuing the collection of such

27  unpaid financial obligations through a private attorney or

28  collection agent, the governing body of the county must

29  determine that such collection is cost-effective and the

30  county must follow applicable procurement practices. The costs

31  of collection, including a reasonable attorney's fee, may be

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    File original & 9 copies    04/15/98
    hbd0001                     08:57 am         03303-0069-271699




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                  Bill No. HB 3303

    Amendment No.     (for drafter's use only)





 1  recovered, except that such fees and costs of collection may

 2  not exceed 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  remove from the title of the bill:  the entire title

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10  and insert in lieu thereof:

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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    File original & 9 copies    04/15/98
    hbd0001                     08:57 am         03303-0069-271699