The bill amends Section 903.286 of the Florida Statutes to change the requirements regarding the withholding of funds from cash bonds posted by criminal defendants. It specifies that the clerk of the court must withhold funds from the return of a cash bond posted by the defendant or their spouse, rather than only from bonds posted by third parties who are not bail bond agents. Additionally, the bill mandates that all cash bond forms must include a notice in bold font, detailing that all funds are subject to forfeiture and that the clerk is authorized to withhold funds for various costs associated with prosecution, representation, court fees, and penalties.

Furthermore, the bill introduces specific language changes, such as replacing "shall" with "must" to emphasize the requirement for the clerk to obtain payment or enroll the defendant in a payment plan if sufficient funds are not available. The notice on cash bond forms is also revised to clarify the obligations regarding the withholding of funds. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1396 Filed: 903.286