LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 344 HLS 21RS 694
Bill Text Version: ORIGINAL
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 2, 2021 2:41 PM Author: BRYANT
Dept./Agy.: Courts
Subject: Fines and Fees Analyst: Rebecca Robinson
CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE OR DECREASE LF EX See Note Page 1 of 1
Provides relative to a defendant's ability to pay certain fines, fees, and costs
Proposed legislation requires the judges in any district, city, parish, or mayor’s court to adopt a schedule of fines, penalties,
and costs for violations of traffic law and regulations, for which the maximum possible penalty is a fine only. Requires a
person unable to pay a fine to file an affidavit of indigency, and if accepted, the person shall be placed on a $25 per month
payment plan. Provides that no person shall be jailed or have their driver’s license suspended for the inability to pay fines,
costs, or fees, unless the court finds, after a hearing, the person had the ability to do so and willfully refused to do so.
Provides that a magistrate may not issue an arrest warrant pursuant to Article 333 (failure to appear; issuance of arrest
warrant) unless the defendant has been served with notice and the defendant fails to appear after receiving such notice.
EXPENDITURES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds DECREASE DECREASE DECREASE DECREASE DECREASE
Annual Total
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Annual Total
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on state governmental expenditures as a result of this measure.
There will be a decrease in expenditures to local governmental entities to the extent those entities no longer jail persons for
the failure to appear, or to pay court fines, penalties, or costs for violations of traffic laws and regulations.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on state governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
There may be an indeterminable impact on self-generated revenues to local governmental entities to the extent that courts
rule persons indigent and reduce the amount owed, institute a payment plan, or require performance of community service
in lieu of a monetary penalty. Local governmental entities may experience an increase in self-generated revenue to the
extent persons are placed on a payment plan and receive fines/fees/penalties/costs they ordinarily would not have received;
however, local governmental entities may also experience a decrease in self-generated revenue to the extent persons are
required perform community service in lieu of fines/fees/penalties/costs. Therefore, the net fiscal impact to local
governmental entities is indeterminable.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Alan M. Boxberger
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Staff Director


Statutes affected:
HB344 Original: 32:641(A)