H.B. 10

1

COURT FEES FOR INMATES
2 2010 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
5 Senate Sponsor: Jon J. Greiner
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 Committee Note:
9 The Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Interim Committee
10 recommended this bill.
11 General Description:
12 This bill establishes procedures to determine if court fees and costs should be paid in
13 full or waived in whole or in part for a prisoner who files an initial divorce action or an
14 action to obtain custody of the prisoner's children.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This bill:
17 . requires the court to review the financial information of a prisoner who files an
18 affidavit of impecuniosity;
19 . requires courts, constables, and sheriffs to provide equal service to the impecunious;
20 and
21 . provides that a judge may order that a judgment or decree not be entered in favor of
22 the prisoner who has been required to pay court costs and fees until those costs and
23 fees are paid in full.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None

28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 78A-2-305, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
31
32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 78A-2-305 is amended to read:
34 78A-2-305. Effect of filing affidavit -- Procedure for review and collection.
35 (1) (a) Upon receipt of the oath or affirmation filed with any Utah court by a prisoner,
36 the court shall immediately request the institution or facility where the prisoner is incarcerated
37 to provide an account statement detailing all financial activities in the prisoner's trust account
38 for the previous six months or since the time of incarceration, whichever is shorter.
39 (b) The incarcerating facility shall:
40 (i) prepare and produce to the court the prisoner's six-month trust account statement,
41 current trust account balance, and aggregate disposable income; and
42 (ii) calculate aggregate disposable income by totaling all deposits made in the
43 prisoner's trust account during the six-month period and subtracting all funds automatically
44 deducted or otherwise garnished from the account during the same period.
45 (2) The court shall:
46 (a) review both the affidavit of impecuniosity and the financial account statement; and
47 (b) based upon the review, independently determine whether or not the prisoner is
48 financially capable of paying all the regular fees and costs associated with filing the action.
49 (3) When the court concludes that the prisoner is unable to pay full fees and costs, the
50 court shall assess an initial partial filing fee equal to 50% of the prisoner's current trust account
51 balance or 10% of the prisoner's six-month aggregate disposable income, whichever is greater.
52 (4) (a) After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the court shall require the prisoner
53 to make monthly payments of 20% of the preceding month's aggregate disposable income until
54 the regular filing fee associated with the civil action is paid in full.
55 (b) The agency having custody of the prisoner shall:
56 (i) garnish the prisoner's account each month; and
57 (ii) once the collected fees exceed $10, forward payments to the clerk of the court until
58 the filing fees are paid.

59 (c) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the agency having custody of
60 the prisoner from withdrawing funds from the prisoner's account to pay court-ordered
61 restitution.
62 (5) Collection of the filing fees continues despite dismissal of the action.
63 (6) The filing fee collected may not exceed the amount of fees permitted by statute for
64 the commencement of a civil action or an appeal of a civil action.
65 (7) If the prisoner is filing an initial divorce action or an action to obtain custody of the
66 prisoner's children, the following procedures shall apply for review and collection of fees and
67 costs:
68 (a) Upon filing an oath or affirmation with any Utah court by a prisoner, the court shall
69 review the affidavit and make an independent determination based on the information provided
70 whether court costs and fees should be paid in full or be waived in whole or in part. The court
71 shall require a full or partial filing fee when the prisoner's financial information demonstrates
72 an ability to pay the applicable court fees or costs.
73 (b) (i) If a prisoner's court fees or costs are completely waived, and if the prisoner files
74 an appeal, the court shall immediately file any complaint or papers on appeal and complete all
75 necessary action as promptly as if the litigant had paid all the fees and costs in full.
76 (ii) If a prisoner is impecunious, the constable and sheriff shall immediately serve any
77 summonses, writs, process and subpoenas, and papers necessary in the prosecution or defense
78 of the cause as if all the necessary fees and costs had been paid in full.
79 (c) (i) If a prisoner files an affidavit of impecuniosity, the judge shall question the
80 prisoner at the time of hearing on the merits of the case as to the prisoner's ability to pay.
81 (ii) If the judge determines that the person is reasonably able to pay court fees and
82 costs, the judge shall order that the judgment or decree not be entered in favor of the prisoner
83 until the fees or costs are paid in full.
84 (iii) If a judge orders that a judgment or decree not be entered in favor of the prisoner
85 because the fees or costs are not paid in full, a judge may cancel or modify that order as
86 warranted by subsequent facts.

Legislative Review Note
as of 6-16-09 7:39 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel