CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5974
Chapter 38, Laws of 2024
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
DISPOSITION OF UNENFORCEABLE JUVENILE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2024
Passed by the Senate January 31, 2024 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 42 Nays 6
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
the Senate of the State of
DENNY HECK Washington, do hereby certify that
President of the Senate the attached is ENGROSSED
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5974 as
passed by the Senate and the House
of Representatives on the dates
Passed by the House February 22, 2024 hereon set forth.
Yeas 66 Nays 27
SARAH BANNISTER
LAURIE JINKINS
Secretary
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved March 13, 2024 11:30 AM FILED
March 14, 2024
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5974
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Frame,
Saldaña, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Nguyen, Nobles, Trudeau, and C.
Wilson)
READ FIRST TIME 01/19/24.
1 AN ACT Relating to the disposition of unenforceable legal
2 financial obligations other than restitution imposed by a court or an
3 agent of the court against a juvenile prior to July 1, 2023; amending
4 RCW 13.40.192; and creating a new section.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6 Sec. 1. RCW 13.40.192 and 2023 c 449 s 20 are each amended to
7 read as follows:
8 (1) If a juvenile is ordered to pay restitution, the money
9 judgment remains enforceable for a period of 10 years. When the
10 juvenile reaches the age of 18 years or at the conclusion of juvenile
11 court jurisdiction, whichever occurs later, the superior court clerk
12 must docket the remaining balance of the juvenile's restitution in
13 the same manner as other judgments for the payment of money. The
14 judgment remains valid and enforceable until 10 years from the date
15 of its imposition. The clerk of the superior court may seek extension
16 of the judgment for restitution in the same manner as RCW 6.17.020
17 for purposes of collection as allowed under RCW 36.18.190.
18 (2)(a) A judgment against a juvenile for any legal financial
19 obligation other than restitution including, but not limited to,
20 fines, penalty assessments, attorneys' fees, court costs, and other
21 administrative fees, is not enforceable after July 1, 2023. The
p. 1 ESSB 5974.SL
 1 superior court clerk shall not accept payments from a respondent who
2 was ordered to pay legal financial obligations, including fines,
3 penalty assessments, attorneys' fees, and court costs after July 1,
4 2023. Any such debts shall be rendered null and void, and considered
5 satisfied and paid in full by July 1, 2027, according to the
6 following schedule:
7 (i) By June 30, 2025, debts resulting from cases filed from July
8 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023;
9 (ii) By June 30, 2026, debts resulting from cases filed from July
10 1, 2013, through June 30, 2018; and
11 (iii) By June 30, 2027, debts resulting from cases filed prior to
12 July 1, 2013.
13 (b) Nothing in this section shall prevent a court from granting
14 individual relief at any time in response to a motion.
15 (c) The presiding judge of a superior court may at any time
16 authorize an administrative process to waive outstanding debt for any
17 uncollectible legal financial obligation, other than restitution,
18 imposed against a juvenile. The administrative process must ensure
19 that debts:
20 (i) Are waived within any statutorily required deadlines;
21 (ii) Do not affect an individual's credit;
22 (iii) Are recalled from any collections agency; and
23 (iv) Do not appear in any background check.
24 (d) For the purposes of this section, the clerk of the superior
25 court may seek a judicial order to waive outstanding debt for any
26 uncollectible legal financial obligations, other than restitution, in
27 the same manner as the clerk is authorized to seek an extension of
28 jurisdiction under RCW 6.17.020 for purposes of collection as allowed
29 under RCW 36.18.190. Any motion filed by the clerk of the superior
30 court under this section does not constitute the practice of law.
31 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The administrative office of the courts
32 shall submit an annual report to the relevant committees of the
33 legislature on the implementation of this act beginning on November
34 1, 2024, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036.
Passed by the Senate January 31, 2024.
Passed by the House February 22, 2024.
Approved by the Governor March 13, 2024.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 14, 2024.
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Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 13.40.192
Substitute Bill: 13.40.192
Engrossed Substitute: 13.40.192
Bill as Passed Legislature: 13.40.192
Session Law: 13.40.192