This bill amends various sections of Nebraska law to enhance financial accessibility within the juvenile justice system and adjust the fee structures associated with court proceedings. It exempts individuals under nineteen years of age from certain court fees, costs, probation fees, and DNA collection and testing costs, establishing a presumption of indigence for these individuals concerning fees related to criminal discovery. The bill prohibits the recovery of costs and fees from juveniles and their parents or guardians in juvenile proceedings and eliminates the imposition of fines as penalties. Additionally, it modifies provisions related to juvenile pretrial diversion programs and appointed counsel, while harmonizing and repealing obsolete provisions.

Moreover, the bill revises the fee structure for various court services, including the introduction of new fees for legal services and dispute resolution, while ensuring that no fees are charged to individuals described in the act. It establishes a Nebraska Crime Victim Fund to manage assessments collected from misdemeanor and felony convictions, which will support criminal justice initiatives. The bill also mandates the remittance of fees to the State Treasurer within specified timelines and clarifies that certain fees will not be collected in juvenile court proceedings. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the collection of fees, improve funding mechanisms for probation and court services, and promote the support and protection of juveniles without imposing financial burdens.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24-703, 25-1140.09, 25-1914, 25-3010, 29-1903, 29-1920, 29-2207, 29-2262, 29-2262.04, 29-2262.06, 29-2704, 29-4106, 29-4121, 33-103, 33-106, 33-107.01, 33-107.03, 33-124, 33-126.05, 33-154, 33-155, 33-156, 33-157, 43-254, 43-260.04, 43-261, 43-272, 43-290, 47-633, 81-1429