This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding court assessments by allowing courts to mandate community restitution for indigent individuals experiencing homelessness as an alternative to paying a $20 assessment fee. Under current law, if a defendant is unable to pay a monetary obligation, they may request to perform community restitution instead. The bill adds a specific provision that if the court finds a defendant is both unable to pay the assessment and is homeless and indigent, the court can order them to perform mandatory community restitution in lieu of the assessment payment.

The bill also clarifies the definition of "monetary obligation" to include various financial penalties, while removing the previous designation of subsection C. Overall, the changes aim to provide a more equitable approach for individuals facing financial hardships, ensuring that those who are homeless and indigent can fulfill their obligations through community service rather than financial penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1074
House Engrossed Version: 41-1074
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-824