Committee backs change to assessments on misdemeanor simple-assault cases

Senator Suber presented language amending assessments tied to simple-assault convictions and asked the committee to consider giving judges greater discretion on victim-assessment amounts.

"The judges and prosecutors have had an issue with a $1,000 fine going to the victims of human trafficking," Senator Suber said, explaining that the current statutory assessment can apply to low-level simple-assault cases that prosecutors say have no nexus to trafficking.

Suber and other senators discussed amending paragraph 3 to allow a lower minimum or to make the amount discretionary. The change under consideration would remove the automatic $1,000 assessment for certain misdemeanors and instead allow penalties down to $500 or a range set by the judge, while leaving felony-level assessments unchanged.

Senators discussed whether the language should better target assessments tied to human-trafficking victim funds and whether the code sections need clearer definitions so that unrelated misdemeanor offenses are not swept into the special assessment.

The committee adopted the proposed changes and voted the measure out of committee; the transcript records the motion "Title sufficient do pass as amended." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.