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Committee approves bill preventing convictions solely for unpaid deferral costs, adds amendment to preserve debt collection
Summary
Senate Courts and Justice Committee advanced HB 1886, which bars courts from entering convictions solely because a defendant has not paid court costs after completing deferred-disposition conditions. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying that costs remain due and may be collected.
Delegate Doug McClure, sponsor of HB 1886, told the committee the bill prevents courts from converting a deferred disposition into a conviction solely because a defendant lacks the ability to pay court costs. McClure and supporters said the measure aims to avoid a two-tiered system where people who cannot afford fees are treated differently than those who can.
Lawmakers and witnesses debated the practical consequences of the language. Senators asked whether the draft would effectively force courts to dismiss cases without regard to unpaid fines and whether unpaid costs could still be collected as civil judgments. Office of the…
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