This bill amends several sections of the North Dakota Century Code to update court fees and related financial provisions. Notably, it modifies the restitution costs imposed when a defendant issues a check without sufficient funds, establishing a minimum fee of twenty dollars or twenty-five percent of the restitution amount, capped at one thousand dollars. Additionally, it increases the maximum fee that district judges can assess for crime victim and witness programs from twenty-five to fifty dollars. The bill also revises the fees charged by the clerk of the supreme court and the clerk of the district court, including raising the filing fee for appeals from one hundred twenty-five dollars to two hundred fifty dollars, and adjusting various other fees related to civil cases and family law matters.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new fees and modifies existing ones related to court administration and community service supervision. It establishes a court administration fee structure based on the severity of the offense, with specific amounts for misdemeanors and felonies, and includes provisions for indigent defense and community service supervision fees. The bill allows for the waiver of these fees in cases of demonstrated indigency and outlines the allocation of collected fees to various funds, including those for indigent defense services and community service supervision grants. Overall, the bill aims to streamline court fee structures while ensuring that funds are appropriately directed to support judicial and victim services.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 12.1-32-08, 27-01-10, 27-03-05, 27-05.2-03, 29-26-22
Adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee: 12.1-32-08, 27-01-10, 27-03-05, 27-05.2-03, 29-26-22
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 12.1-32-08, 27-01-10, 27-03-05, 27-05.2-03, 29-26-22
PREFILED: 12.1-32-08, 27-01-10, 27-03-05, 27-05.2-03, 29-26-22