06 LC 21
8634S
House
Bill 901 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By:
Representative Stephens of the
164th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
provide for a surcharge on fines in the State Court of Bryan County and the
Magistrate Court of Bryan County; to provide for use of such sums for the
purpose of local juvenile diversion programs; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
(a)
In every case in which the State Court of Bryan County and the Magistrate Court
of Bryan County shall impose a fine, which shall be construed to include costs,
for any criminal offense or any criminal ordinance violation, there shall be
imposed as an additional penalty a sum equal to 10 percent of the original
fine.
(b) Such sums shall be in addition to any amount required by Code Section 47-17-60 of the O.C.G.A. to be paid into the Peace Officerś Annuity and Benefit Fund and in addition to any other amounts provided for by general law.
(b) Such sums shall be in addition to any amount required by Code Section 47-17-60 of the O.C.G.A. to be paid into the Peace Officerś Annuity and Benefit Fund and in addition to any other amounts provided for by general law.
SECTION
2.
(a)
The sums provided for in Section 1 of this Act shall be assessed and collected
by the court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from
fines and shall be paid over to the juvenile court of Bryan County for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining a local juvenile diversion program
carried out by the juvenile court or by a program approved by the juvenile
court. The purpose of a local juvenile diversion program is to reduce the
number of juveniles proceeding through juvenile court and reduce recidivism by
creating alternatives to the court system which may include intensive case
management, referrals for other services, tracking and improving school
attendance, increasing services and support for juveniles and their families
through partnerships with private and public agencies, or providing mentoring or
other activities for juveniles. The funds shall be paid over in the same manner
as other county funds paid for operations of the juvenile court and shall be in
addition to rather than in lieu of any other such funds. These funds shall be
paid to the respective juvenile courts by the last day of the month following
the month in which the funds are received; provided, however, that the governing
authority of the county shall be authorized to hold as reserve funds an amount
not to exceed 5 percent of the funds received by the governing authority in the
preceding calendar year.
(b) This article shall not preclude the appropriation or expenditure of other funds by the governing authority of the county for the purpose of juvenile diversion programs.
(b) This article shall not preclude the appropriation or expenditure of other funds by the governing authority of the county for the purpose of juvenile diversion programs.
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2006, and shall apply to criminal offenses
alleged to have occurred on or after July 1, 2006.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.