Ability to Pay

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State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Level of offense Definition of ability to pay Timeline Burden of proof Method of determination Mandatory Remedies if unable to pay
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California Cal. Veh. Code § 14601.5(e) Driving with suspended license
In imposing the minimum fine required by subdivision (d), the court shall take into consideration the defendant's ability to pay the fine and may, in the interest of justice, and
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for reasons stated in the record, reduce the amount of that minimum fine to less than the amount otherwise imposed.
Traffic

NA

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Court may waive or reduce fine

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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 161.645 Ability to pay -- prior to imposition of fine
In determining whether to impose a fine and its amount, the court shall consider: (1) The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment of a fine will impose,
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with due regard to the other obligations of the defendant; and (2) The ability of the defendant to pay a fine on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court. [1971 c.743 §78]
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(1) The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment of a fine will impose, with due regard to the other obligations of the defendant; and
(2) The

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ability of the defendant to pay a fine on an installment basis or on other conditions to be fixed by the court. [1971 c.743 §78]

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Payment plan

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 987.5(b) Of the Arraignment of the Defendant: Registration fee for defendant represented by appointed counsel; Inability to pay; Ordinance establishing fee

(b) At the time of appointment of counsel by the court, or upon commencement of representation by the public defender, if prior to court appointment, the defendant shall be asked if

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he or she is financially able to pay the registration fee or any portion thereof. If the defendant indicates that he or she is able to pay the fee or a portion thereof, the court or public defender shall make an assessment in accordance with ability to pay. No fee shall be assessed against any defendant who asserts that he or she is unable to pay the fee or any portion thereof. No other inquiry concerning the defendant’s ability to pay shall be made until proceedings are held pursuant to Section 987.8.

Felony

NA

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Other Yes

No fee shall be assessed against any defendant who asserts that he or she is unable to pay the fee or any portion thereof.

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1203.1e(b) Payment by county prisoner of costs of parole supervision

(b) If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay all or part of the costs, the court may set the amount to be reimbursed and order

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the person to pay that sum to the county in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the person’s financial ability. In making a determination of whether a person has the ability to pay, the court shall take into account the amount of any fine imposed upon the person and any amount the person has been ordered to pay in restitution.If practicable, the court shall order payments to be made on a monthly basis as directed by the court. Execution may be issued on the order in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. The order to pay all or part of the costs shall not be enforced by contempt.

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(c) For the purposes of this section, “ability to pay” means the overall capability of the person to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs, of providing parole

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supervision and shall include, but shall not be limited to, consideration of all of the following factors: (1) Present financial position. (2) Reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the board consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing for purposes of determining reasonably discernible future financial position. (3) Likelihood that the person shall be able to obtain employment within the six-month period from the date of the hearing. (4) Any other factor or factors which may bear upon the person’s financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs. (d) At any time during the pendency of the order made under this section, a person against whom an order has been made may petition the court to modify or vacate its previous order on the grounds of a change of circumstances with regard to the person’s ability to pay. The court shall advise the person of this right at the time of making the order.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Reduced fee/installment plan

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1203.1c(a) Payment of costs of incarceration in local facility as condition of probation

(a) In any case in which a defendant is convicted of an offense and is ordered to serve a period of confinement in a county jail, city jail, or other

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local detention facility as a term of probation or a conditional sentence, the court may, after a hearing, make a determination of the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the reasonable costs of such incarceration, including incarceration pending disposition of the case. The reasonable cost of such incarceration shall not exceed the amount determined by the board of supervisors, with respect to the county jail, and by the city council, with respect to the city jail, to be the actual average cost thereof on a per-day basis. The court may, in its discretion, hold additional hearings during the probationary period. The court may, in its discretion before such hearing, order the defendant to file a statement setting forth his or her assets, liability and income, under penalty of perjury, and may order the defendant to appear before a county officer designated by the board of supervisors to make an inquiry into the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of such costs. At the hearing, the defendant shall be entitled to have the opportunity to be heard in person or to be represented by counsel, to present witnesses and other evidence, and to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses. A defendant represented by counsel appointed by the court in the criminal proceedings shall be entitled to such representation at any hearing held pursuant to this section. If the court determines that the defendant has the ability to pay all or a part of the costs, the court may set the amount to be reimbursed and order the defendant to pay that sum to the county, or to the city with respect to incarceration in the city jail, in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant’s financial ability. Execution may be issued on the order in the same manner as on a judgment in a civil action. The order to pay all or part of the costs shall not be enforced by contempt.If practicable, the court shall order payments to be made on a monthly basis and the payments shall be made payable to the county officer designated by the board of supervisors, or to a city officer designated by the city council with respect to incarceration in the city jail. A payment schedule for reimbursement of the costs of incarceration pursuant to this section based upon income shall be developed by the county officer designated by the board of supervisors, or by the city council with respect to incarceration in the city jail, and approved by the presiding judge of the superior court in the county.

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(c) For the purposes of this section, “ability to pay” means the overall capability of the person to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs, of providing parole

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supervision and shall include, but shall not be limited to, consideration of all of the following factors: (1) Present financial position. (2) Reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the board consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing for purposes of determining reasonably discernible future financial position. (3) Likelihood that the person shall be able to obtain employment within the six-month period from the date of the hearing. (4) Any other factor or factors which may bear upon the person’s financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs. (d) At any time during the pendency of the order made under this section, a person against whom an order has been made may petition the court to modify or vacate its previous order on the grounds of a change of circumstances with regard to the person’s ability to pay. The court shall advise the person of this right at the time of making the order.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Reduced fee/installment plan

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 1203.1m(b) Defendant to pay cost of imprisonment

(b) The court may, in its discretion before any hearing, order the defendant to file a statement setting forth his or her assets, liability, and income, under penalty of perjury.

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At the hearing, the defendant shall have the opportunity to be heard in person or through counsel, to present witnesses and other evidence, and to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses. A defendant who is represented by counsel appointed by the court in the criminal proceedings shall be entitled to representation at any hearing held pursuant to this section. If the court determines that the defendant has the ability to pay all or a part of the costs, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order the defendant to pay that sum to the Department of Corrections for deposit in the General Fund in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant’s financial ability. Execution may be issued on the order in the same manner as on a judgment in a civil action. The order to pay all or part of the costs shall not be enforced by contempt.

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(e) For the purposes of this section, in determining a defendant’s ability to pay, the court shall consider the overall ability of the defendant to reimburse all or a portion

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of the costs of imprisonment in light of the defendant’s present and foreseeable financial obligations, including family support obligations, restitution to the victim, and fines, penalties, and other obligations to the court, all of which shall take precedence over a reimbursement order made pursuant to this section.(f) For the purposes of this section, in determining a defendant’s ability to pay, the court shall not consider the following: (1) The personal residence of the defendant, if any, up to a maximum amount of the median home sales price in the county in which the residence is located. (2) The personal motor vehicle of the defendant, if any, up to a maximum amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (3) Any other assets of the defendant up to a maximum amount of the median annual income in California.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

fee will be reduced

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California Cal. Pen. Code § 987.8(b), (d)-(f) Of the Arraignment of the Defendant: Determination of assets subject to attachment; Determination and order for payment of costs of counsel; Proceedings; Enforcement

(b) If a defendant is provided legal assistance, either through the public defender or private counsel appointed by the court, upon conclusion of the criminal proceedings in the trial court

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or upon the withdrawal of the public defender or appointed private counsel, the court may, after notice and a hearing, make a determination of the present ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the cost thereof. The court may, in its discretion, hold one such additional hearing within six months of the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. The court may, in its discretion, order the defendant to appear before a county officer designated by the court to make an inquiry into the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the legal assistance provided.

(d) If the defendant, after having been ordered to appear before a county officer, has been given proper notice and fails to appear before a county officer within 20 working days, the county officer shall recommend to the court that the full cost of the legal assistance be ordered to be paid by the defendant. The notice to the defendant shall contain all of the following: (1) A statement of the cost of the legal assistance provided to the defendant as determined by the court. (2) The defendant’s procedural rights under this section. (3) The time limit within which the defendant’s response is required. (4) A warning that if the defendant fails to appear.

(e)(1) At a hearing, the defendant shall be entitled to, but shall not be limited to, all of the following rights: (A) The right to be heard in person. (B) The right to present witnesses and other documentary evidence. (C) The right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses. (D) The right to have the evidence against him or her disclosed to him or her. (E) The right to a written statement of the findings of the court. (2) If the court determines that the defendant has the present ability to pay all or a part of the cost, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order the defendant to pay the sum to the county in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant’s financial ability. Failure of a defendant who is not in custody to appear after due notice is a sufficient basis for an order directing the defendant to pay the full cost of the legal assistance determined by the court. The order to pay all or a part of the costs may be enforced in the manner provided for enforcement of money judgments generally but may not be enforced by contempt.

(f) Prior to the furnishing of counsel or legal assistance by the court, the court shall give notice to the defendant that the court may, after a hearing, make a determination of the present ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the cost of counsel. The court shall also give notice that, if the court determines that the defendant has the present ability, the court shall order him or her to pay all or a part of the cost. The notice shall inform the defendant that the order shall have the same force and effect as a judgment in a civil action and shall be subject to enforcement against the property of the defendant in the same manner as any other money judgment.

Felony

(g)(2) “Ability to pay” means the overall capability of the defendant to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs, of the legal assistance provided to him or her, and

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shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (A) The defendant’s present financial position. (B) The defendant’s reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the court consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing for purposes of determining the defendant’s reasonably discernible future financial position. Unless the court finds unusual circumstances, a defendant sentenced to state prison, or to county jail for a period longer than 364 days, including, but not limited to, a sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, shall be determined not to have a reasonably discernible future financial ability to reimburse the costs of his or her defense. (C) The likelihood that the defendant shall be able to obtain employment within a six-month period from the date of the hearing. (D) Any other factor or factors that may bear upon the defendant’s financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs of the legal assistance provided to the defendant.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes

Court may waive or reduce fee

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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 179.640 Determination of ability to pay; rules; financial information; notice; order; hearing; appeal.

(1)(a) The Department of Corrections and the Oregon Health Authority shall establish rules for determining ability to pay for persons in their respective institutions. The rules adopted by each agency

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shall require, in addition to other relevant factors, consideration of the personal estate, the person’s need for funds for personal support after release, and the availability of third-party benefits such as, but not limited to, Medicare or private insurance. Each agency may also consider the probable length of stay at the state institution. Nothing in this section requires the Department of Corrections to investigate a person’s ability to pay or to issue an ability-to-pay order. (b) When adopting rules under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Department of Corrections shall consider the person’s needs for funds to pay for the support of the person’s children and to pay any monetary obligations imposed on the person as a result of the person’s conviction.

(2) In determining a person’s ability to pay, none of the agencies may consider as part of the personal estate of the person or the decedent’s estate: (a) Any assets received by or owing to the person and the personal estate of the person, or the decedent’s estate, as compensation from the state for injury, death or, if the collection is being made by the Department of Corrections, the false imprisonment of the person that occurred when the person was in a state institution listed in ORS 179.321 (Responsibility to supervise state institutions) and for which the state admits liability or is found liable through adjudication; and (b) Any real or personal property that the person or an authorized representative of the person can demonstrate was purchased solely with assets referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection or partially with such assets, to the extent such assets were used in the purchase.

(3) A person and the authorized representative of the person, if any, shall provide all financial information requested by the agency that is necessary to determine the person’s ability to pay. To determine ability to pay, the agency may use any information available to the agency, including information provided by the Department of Revenue from personal income tax returns pursuant to ORS 314.840 (Disclosure of information). Upon request, the Department of Revenue shall release copies of tax returns to the agency. When the person or the person’s authorized representative fails to provide evidence to demonstrate an inability to pay full cost of care, the agency may determine the person has the ability to pay the full cost of care.

(4) The agency shall provide actual notice to the person and any authorized representative, if known to the agency, of its determination by issuing an ability-to-pay order. The order shall state the person’s full liability and the person’s determined ability to pay. Actual notice means receipt by the person and the authorized representative of notice. The notice shall include a copy of the ability-to-pay order, a description of the person’s appeal rights and the date upon which appeal rights terminate and state the address where a request for hearing may be mailed or delivered. At any time, the agency may reissue an ability-to-pay order to notify an authorized representative as provided by ORS 179.653 (Unpaid costs as lien on property) (4).

(5) At any time during the person’s stay at the state institution or within 36 months from the date the person is released, if the agency receives new financial information that shows a change in the person’s financial circumstances, the agency shall consider the changed circumstances and issue a new ability-to-pay order.

(6) Orders issued after the person is released may not require the person to make payments toward the cost of care for more than 36 consecutive months following release. However, the agency may collect beyond the 36-month period any payments that became due but were not paid within the 36 months following release. Any remaining balance of full cost of care shall be collected as provided in ORS 179.740 (Collection from estates).

(7) Notwithstanding ORS 183.315 (Application of provisions of chapter to certain agencies) (5), if a person or authorized representative disagrees with any ability-to-pay order issued pursuant to this section, the person or authorized representative may request a contested case hearing. To the extent practical, the hearing will be held at a location convenient to the person or the authorized representative. The request must be postmarked within 60 days from the date of the mailing of the ability-to-pay order. If the person or the authorized representative makes a timely request for a contested case hearing, the hearing and any appeal of the final hearing order shall be governed by ORS 183.413 (Notice to parties before hearing of rights and procedure) to 183.497 (Awarding costs and attorney fees when finding for petitioner). If the person or the authorized representative fails to make a timely request for a contested case hearing, the ability-to-pay order shall be final and not subject to judicial review, except as subsequently modified by the agency as provided in subsection (5) of this section.

(8) On appeal, regardless of other information presented, payment of the full cost of care may be ordered if the person or the authorized representative refuses to produce financial information that the Hearings Officer or administrative law judge determines is relevant and must be produced. [1959 c.652 §4; 1961 c.501 §2; 1967 c.549 §4; 1973 c.806 §3a; 1973 c.823 §§123,159; 1989 c.348 §3; 1997 c.170 §15; 1999 c.159 §2; 2001 c.487 §3; 2003 c.75 §86; 2009 c.595 §149; 2013 c.36 §59; 2015 c.348 §26]

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The rules adopted by each agency shall require, in addition to other relevant factors, consideration of the personal estate, the person’s need for funds for personal support after release, and

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the availability of third-party benefits such as, but not limited to, Medicare or private insurance. Each agency may also consider the probable length of stay at the state institution. Nothing in this section requires the Department of Corrections to investigate a person’s ability to pay or to issue an ability-to-pay order. (b) When adopting rules under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Department of Corrections shall consider the person’s needs for funds to pay for the support of the person’s children and to pay any monetary obligations imposed on the person as a result of the person’s conviction.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Administrative decision Yes

N/A

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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 151.487(1),(4) Ability to pay; effect

(1) If in determining that a person is financially eligible for appointed counsel under ORS 151.485, the court finds that the person has financial resources that enable the person to pay in

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full or in part the administrative costs of determining the eligibility of the person and the costs of the legal and other services to be provided at state expense that are related to the provision of appointed counsel, the court shall enter a limited judgment requiring that the person pay to the Public Defense Services Account established by ORS 151.225, through the clerk of the court, the amount that it finds the person is able to pay without creating substantial hardship in providing basic economic necessities to the person or the person's dependent family. The amount that a court may require the person to pay is subject to the guidelines and procedures issued by the Public Defense Services Commission as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(4) The commission shall promulgate and issue guidelines and procedures: (a) For the determination of persons provided with appointed counsel who have some financial resources to pay in full or in part the administrative, legal and other costs under subsection (1) of this section; and (b) Regarding the amounts persons may be required to pay by a court under subsection (1) of this section.

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Amount that it finds the person is able to pay without creating substantial hardship in providing basic economic necessities to the person or the person's dependent family.

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Administrative decision Yes

None specified