2008 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 368<br /> – Court fees, distribution

HOUSE BILL NO. 368

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H0368................................by JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
COURT FEES - Repeals and adds to existing law to provide court fees and to
provide for distribution of the fees.

01/18    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/21    Rpt prt - to Jud

Bill Text




                                                                       
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-ninth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2008

                                                                       

                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 368

                      BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO COURT FEES; REPEALING SECTION 31-3201A, IDAHO  CODE,  RELATING  TO
  3        COURT  FEES; AMENDING CHAPTER 32, TITLE 31, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF
  4        A NEW SECTION 31-3201A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR COURT FEES AND FEE DIS-
  5        TRIBUTION; AND AMENDING SECTION 18-918, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE  A  CORRECT
  6        CODE REFERENCE.

  7    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

  8        SECTION  1.  That Section 31-3201A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  9    repealed.

 10        SECTION 2.  That Chapter 32, Title 31, Idaho Code, be,  and  the  same  is
 11    hereby  amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-
 12    ignated as Section 31-3201A, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

 13        31-3201A.  COURT FEES. The clerk  of  the  district  court  shall  charge,
 14    demand and receive the following fees for services rendered in discharging the
 15    duties imposed by law upon the clerk.
 16        (1)  Divorce.  A  fee  of  one hundred twenty-nine dollars ($129) shall be
 17    paid for filing a case of divorce. The filing fee shall be paid to the  county
 18    treasurer  who  shall  distribute  the  money as follows: ten dollars ($10.00)
 19    shall be deposited in the county court facilities  fund  pursuant  to  section
 20    31-3201, Idaho Code; one dollar ($1.00) shall be forwarded to the state regis-
 21    trar pursuant to section 39-266, Idaho Code; twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall
 22    be  deposited  in the district court fund of the county, of which five dollars
 23    ($5.00) shall be separately identified and used exclusively for the purpose of
 24    establishing a uniform system of qualifying and approving persons, agencies or
 25    organizations to conduct evaluations of persons convicted of domestic  assault
 26    or  battery  as provided in section 18-918, Idaho Code, and the administration
 27    of section 18-918(7), Idaho Code, relating to the evaluation and counseling or
 28    other treatment of such persons, including the payment of the costs of  evalu-
 29    ating  and counseling or other treatment of an indigent defendant, but no pro-
 30    vision of chapter 52, title 39, Idaho Code, shall apply to these  moneys;  and
 31    ninety-six  dollars  ($96.00) shall be sent to the state treasurer within five
 32    (5) days after the end of the month. The state treasurer shall distribute this
 33    money as follows:  ten dollars ($10.00) shall be  deposited  into  the  ISTARS
 34    technology fund; twelve dollars ($12.00) shall be deposited in accordance with
 35    subsection  (19)  of this section; six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into
 36    the senior magistrate judges fund; ten dollars  ($10.00)  shall  be  deposited
 37    into  the  code  fund pursuant to section 73-213, Idaho Code; eighteen dollars
 38    ($18.00) shall be deposited into the judges' retirement fund pursuant to  sec-
 39    tion  1-2003,  Idaho Code; twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be deposited into the
 40    displaced homemaker account pursuant  to  section  39-5009,  Idaho  Code;  and
 41    twenty  dollars  ($20.00)  shall  be credited to the domestic violence project
 42    account pursuant to section 39-5213, Idaho Code.

                                       2

  1        (2)  Small claims. A fee of fifty-one dollars ($51.00) shall be  paid  for
  2    filing  a case in small claims department. The filing fee shall be paid to the
  3    county treasurer who shall distribute the  money  as  follows:  seven  dollars
  4    ($7.00) shall be deposited into the district court fund of the court; ten dol-
  5    lars  ($10.00) shall be deposited into the county court facilities fund pursu-
  6    ant to section 31-3201, Idaho Code; and thirty-four dollars ($34.00) shall  be
  7    sent  to  the state treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the month.
  8    The state treasurer shall  distribute  this  money  as  follows:  ten  dollars
  9    ($10.00)  shall  be  deposited  into  the  ISTARS technology fund; six dollars
 10    ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior magistrate judges fund;  and  eigh-
 11    teen dollars ($18.00) shall be deposited into the judges' retirement fund pur-
 12    suant to section 1-2003, Idaho Code.
 13        (3)  Summary  administration  of  small  estates.  A  fee of forty dollars
 14    ($40.00) shall be paid for cases to be administered under the summary adminis-
 15    tration of small estates and proceedings to determine heirship without  admin-
 16    istration. The filing fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall dis-
 17    tribute the money as follows: four dollars ($4.00) shall be deposited into the
 18    district court fund of the court; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited into
 19    the  county court facilities fund pursuant to section 31-3201, Idaho Code; and
 20    twenty-six dollars ($26.00) shall be sent to the state treasurer  within  five
 21    (5) days after the end of the month. The state treasurer shall distribute this
 22    money  as  follows:  ten  dollars  ($10.00) shall be deposited into the ISTARS
 23    technology fund; six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior magis-
 24    trate judges fund; and ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited  in  accordance
 25    with subsection (19) of this section.
 26        (4)  Petition  for  release  of  nonconsensual  common  law lien. A fee of
 27    thirty-five dollars ($35.00) shall be paid for filing a petition  for  release
 28    of  a  nonconsensual  common law lien pursuant to section 45-1703, Idaho Code.
 29    The filing fee shall be paid to the county treasurer  who  shall  deposit  the
 30    money into the district court fund of the county.
 31        (5)  Petition  for entry of judgment on worker's compensation award. A fee
 32    of fifty-three dollars ($53.00) shall be paid for filing a  petition  pursuant
 33    to  section 72-735, Idaho Code, seeking enforcement of an award under the wor-
 34    ker's compensation laws. The filing fee shall be paid to the county  treasurer
 35    who  shall  distribute  the  money  as  follows: nine dollars ($9.00) shall be
 36    deposited into the district court fund of the  county;  ten  dollars  ($10.00)
 37    shall  be  deposited into the county court facilities fund pursuant to section
 38    31-3201, Idaho Code; and thirty-four dollars ($34.00) shall  be  sent  to  the
 39    state  treasurer  within  five  (5) days after the end of the month. The state
 40    treasurer shall distribute this money as follows: six dollars ($6.00) shall be
 41    deposited into the senior magistrate judges fund; ten dollars  ($10.00)  shall
 42    be  deposited  into  the code fund pursuant to section 73-213, Idaho Code; and
 43    eighteen dollars ($18.00) shall be deposited into the judges' retirement  fund
 44    pursuant to section 1-2003, Idaho Code.
 45        (6)  Proceedings  for  habeas corpus by a nonprisoner. A fee of fifty-four
 46    dollars ($54.00) shall be paid by a party, who is not  a  prisoner,  filing  a
 47    petition  for  habeas corpus. The filing fee shall be paid to the county trea-
 48    surer who shall distribute the money as follows:  ten dollars  ($10.00)  shall
 49    be  deposited  into  the  county  court  facilities  fund  pursuant to section
 50    31-3201, Idaho Code; and forty-four dollars ($44.00)  shall  be  sent  to  the
 51    state  treasurer  within  five  (5) days after the end of the month. The state
 52    treasurer shall distribute this money as follows: ten dollars  ($10.00)  shall
 53    be  deposited  into  the ISTARS technology fund; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be
 54    deposited into the code fund pursuant to section 73-213, Idaho Code; six  dol-
 55    lars  ($6.00)  shall  be deposited into the senior magistrate judges fund; and

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  1    eighteen dollars ($18.00) shall be deposited into the judges' retirement  fund
  2    pursuant to section 1-2003, Idaho Code.
  3        (7)  No filing fee. No filing fee shall be charged for the following:
  4        (a)  Case brought under chapter 3, title 66, Idaho Code, for commitment of
  5        mentally ill persons;
  6        (b)  Case brought under the juvenile corrections act;
  7        (c)  Case brought under the child protective act;
  8        (d)  Demand  for  bond before personal representative is appointed in pro-
  9        bate;
 10        (e)  Petition for sterilization;
 11        (f)  Petition for judicial consent to abortion;
 12        (g)  Registration of trusts and renunciations;
 13        (h)  Petition for leave to compromise the disputed claim of a minor;
 14        (i)  Petition for a civil protection order or to enforce a  foreign  civil
 15        protection order pursuant to chapter 63, title 39, Idaho Code;
 16        (j)  Objection  to  appointment  of guardian filed by a minor or incapaci-
 17        tated person;
 18        (k)  Proceedings to suspend a license for nonpayment of child support pur-
 19        suant to section 7-1405, Idaho Code;
 20        (l)  Proceedings under the uniform post-conviction procedure act;
 21        (m)  Stipulation for entry of judgment;
 22        (n)  Filing of a custody decree from another state;
 23        (o)  Filing any answer after an initial appearance fee has been paid; and
 24        (p)  Criminal appeals.
 25        (8)  Other civil cases. A fee of eighty-eight dollars  ($88.00)  shall  be
 26    paid  for  filing  a  civil  case  of any type in the district court or in the
 27    magistrate's division of the district court, except for cases listed  in  sub-
 28    sections  (1) through (7) of this section. The filing fee shall be paid to the
 29    county treasurer who shall distribute the money as follows: seventeen  dollars
 30    ($17.00)  shall  be  deposited into the district court fund of the county; ten
 31    dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited into the county court facilities fund pur-
 32    suant to section 31-3201, Idaho Code; and sixty-one dollars ($61.00) shall  be
 33    sent  to  the state treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the month.
 34    The state treasurer shall  distribute  this  money  as  follows:  ten  dollars
 35    ($10.00) shall be deposited into the ISTARS technology fund; seventeen dollars
 36    ($17.00)  shall  be  deposited in accordance with subsection (19) of this sec-
 37    tion; six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior magistrate judges
 38    fund; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited into the code fund  pursuant  to
 39    section  73-213,  Idaho Code; and eighteen dollars ($18.00) shall be deposited
 40    into the judges' retirement fund pursuant to section 1-2003, Idaho Code.
 41        (9)  Felonies and misdemeanors. A fee of seventeen dollars and fifty cents
 42    ($17.50) shall be paid, but not in advance, by each person found guilty of any
 43    felony or misdemeanor, except when the court orders such  fee  waived  because
 44    the  person  is  indigent  and unable to pay such fee. If the magistrate court
 45    facilities are provided by the county, five dollars ($5.00) of such fee  shall
 46    be  paid to the county treasurer for deposit in the district court fund of the
 47    county; and twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) of such fee shall be  paid
 48    to  the  county  treasurer  who shall pay such fees to the state treasurer for
 49    deposit in accordance with subsection (19) of this section. If the  magistrate
 50    court  facilities  are  provided  by  a city, five dollars ($5.00) of such fee
 51    shall be paid to the city treasurer for deposit in the city general fund;  two
 52    dollars  and  fifty  cents ($2.50) of such fee shall be paid to the city trea-
 53    surer for deposit in the city capital facilities fund  for  the  construction,
 54    remodeling  and  support  of  magistrate  court  facilities;  and  ten dollars
 55    ($10.00) of such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall pay  such

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  1    fees  to the state treasurer for deposit in accordance with subsection (19) of
  2    this section.
  3        (10) Infractions. A fee of sixteen dollars and fifty cents ($16.50)  shall
  4    be paid, but not in advance, by each person found to have committed an infrac-
  5    tion or any minor traffic, conservation or ordinance violation; provided, that
  6    the  judge  or  magistrate may, in his or her discretion, consolidate separate
  7    nonmoving traffic offenses into one (1) offense for purposes of assessing such
  8    fee. If the magistrate court facilities are provided by the county, five  dol-
  9    lars  ($5.00) of such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer for deposit in
 10    the district court fund of the county; and  eleven  dollars  and  fifty  cents
 11    ($11.50) of such fee shall be paid to the county treasurer, who shall pay such
 12    fees  to the state treasurer for deposit in accordance with subsection (19) of
 13    this section. If the magistrate court facilities are provided by a city,  five
 14    dollars ($5.00) of such fee shall be paid to the city treasurer for deposit in
 15    the  city  general fund; two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) of such fee shall
 16    be paid to the city treasurer for deposit into  the  city  capital  facilities
 17    fund  for the construction, remodeling and support of magistrate court facili-
 18    ties; and nine dollars ($9.00) of such fee shall be paid to the  county  trea-
 19    surer who shall pay such fees to the state treasurer for deposit in accordance
 20    with subsection (19) of this section.
 21        (11) Initial  appearance.  A  fee of fifty-eight dollars ($58.00) shall be
 22    paid for any filing constituting the initial appearance by any  party,  except
 23    the  plaintiff,  in  any  civil  action  in  the  district  court  or  in  the
 24    magistrate's  division  of the district court, except small claims. The filing
 25    fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall distribute  the  money  as
 26    follows:  four dollars ($4.00) shall be deposited into the district court fund
 27    of the county; and fifty-four dollars ($54.00) shall  be  sent  to  the  state
 28    treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the month. The state treasurer
 29    shall  distribute  this money as follows: ten dollars ($10.00) shall be depos-
 30    ited into the ISTARS technology fund; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be  deposited
 31    in  accordance with subsection (19) of this section; six dollars ($6.00) shall
 32    be deposited into the senior magistrate  judges  fund,  ten  dollars  ($10.00)
 33    shall  be deposited into the code fund pursuant to section 73-213, Idaho Code;
 34    and eighteen dollars ($18.00) shall be deposited into the  judges'  retirement
 35    fund pursuant to section 1-2003, Idaho Code.
 36        (12) Accountings.  A fee of nine dollars ($9.00) shall be paid by the per-
 37    son or persons required to make an account pursuant to chapter  5,  title  15,
 38    Idaho  Code,  at the time such account is filed. All of such fee shall be paid
 39    to the county treasurer for deposit  into  the  district  court  fund  of  the
 40    county.
 41        (13) Distribution  of  estate. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall
 42    be paid, upon the filing of the executor or administrator of any person inter-
 43    ested in an estate for the distribution of such estate, to  the  county  trea-
 44    surer  to  be  distributed  as follows: six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited
 45    into the district court fund of the  county;  and  nineteen  dollars  ($19.00)
 46    shall be sent to the state treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the
 47    month.  The  state  treasurer shall distribute this money as follows: thirteen
 48    dollars ($13.00) shall be deposited in accordance with subsection (19) of this
 49    section; and six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior magistrate
 50    judges fund.
 51        (14) Third party claim, cross-claim, counterclaim. In addition to any  fee
 52    paid  for  initiating  a  case  as a plaintiff or for otherwise appearing in a
 53    case, a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be paid by any  party  filing  a
 54    third  party claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim. The filing fee shall be paid
 55    to the county treasurer who shall distribute the money as follows:  nine  dol-

                                       5

  1    lars  ($9.00)  shall  be deposited into the district court fund of the county;
  2    and six dollars ($6.00) shall be sent to the state treasurer within  five  (5)
  3    days  after  the  end  of the month. The state treasurer shall deposit the six
  4    dollars ($6.00) into the senior magistrate judges fund.
  5        (15) Reopening a case. A fee of sixty-three dollars ($63.00) shall also be
  6    paid by any party appearing after judgment or applying to reopen a case, other
  7    than divorce, when there has been no activity for one (1) year after entry  of
  8    judgment.  The filing fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall dis-
  9    tribute the money as follows: nine dollars ($9.00) shall be paid into the dis-
 10    trict court fund of the county; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be  deposited  into
 11    the  county court facilities fund pursuant to section 31-3201, Idaho Code; and
 12    forty-four dollars ($44.00) shall be sent to the state treasurer  within  five
 13    (5) days after the end of the month. The state treasurer shall distribute this
 14    money  as  follows:  ten  dollars  ($10.00) shall be deposited into the ISTARS
 15    technology fund; six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior magis-
 16    trate judges fund; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited into the code  fund
 17    pursuant to section 73-213, Idaho Code; and eighteen dollars ($18.00) shall be
 18    deposited  into  the judges' retirement fund pursuant to section 1-2003, Idaho
 19    Code. In addition to the fee of sixty-three dollars ($63.00) set forth  above,
 20    twenty-three  dollars  ($23.00)  shall be paid by a party applying to reopen a
 21    divorce action or modify a divorce decree when there has been no activity  for
 22    one  (1) year after entry of judgment, which shall be paid to the county trea-
 23    surer who shall distribute the money as follows: eight dollars  ($8.00)  shall
 24    be paid to the district court fund of the county; and fifteen dollars ($15.00)
 25    shall be sent to the state treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the
 26    month,  which  the state treasurer shall deposit in accordance with subsection
 27    (19) of this section.
 28        (16) Change of venue. A fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be paid by a
 29    party initiating a change of venue. Such fee shall be paid to the clerk of the
 30    court of the county to which venue is changed. All of such fee shall  be  paid
 31    to  the  county  treasurer  for  deposit  into  the district court fund of the
 32    county.
 33        (17) Appeals to district court. A  fee  of  fifty-three  dollars  ($53.00)
 34    shall  be  paid  for  taking an appeal from the small claims department to the
 35    magistrate's division or from the magistrate's division to the district court.
 36    The filing fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who shall distribute  the
 37    money  as  follows:  nine dollars ($9.00) shall be deposited into the district
 38    court fund of the county; ten dollars ($10.00) shall  be  deposited  into  the
 39    county  court  facilities  fund  pursuant  to section 31-3201, Idaho Code; and
 40    thirty-four dollars ($34.00) shall be sent to the state treasurer within  five
 41    (5) days after the end of the month. The state treasurer shall distribute this
 42    money  as follows: six dollars ($6.00) shall be deposited into the senior mag-
 43    istrate judges fund; ten dollars ($10.00) shall be  deposited  into  the  code
 44    fund  pursuant  to  section  73-213, Idaho Code; and eighteen dollars ($18.00)
 45    shall be deposited into  the  judges'  retirement  fund  pursuant  to  section
 46    1-2003, Idaho Code.
 47        (18) Civil  appeals  to  supreme  court.  A fee of one hundred one dollars
 48    ($101) shall be paid by a party taking an appeal from the  district  court  to
 49    the  supreme  court.  The filing fee shall be paid to the county treasurer who
 50    shall distribute the money as follows:  nine dollars ($9.00) shall  be  depos-
 51    ited  into  the district court fund of the county; eighty-six dollars ($86.00)
 52    shall be sent to the Idaho supreme court; and six  dollars  ($6.00)  shall  be
 53    sent  to  the  state treasurer within five (5) days after the end of the month
 54    for deposit into the senior magistrate judges fund.
 55        (19) Apportionment of state fees. That portion of the filing fees required

                                       6

  1    to be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit pursuant to subsections (1),
  2    (3), (8), (9), (10), (11), (13) and (15) of this section shall be  apportioned
  3    eighty-six  percent (86%) to the state general fund and fourteen percent (14%)
  4    to the peace officers  standards  and  training  fund  authorized  in  section
  5    19-5116,  Idaho Code, within five (5) days after the end of the month in which
  6    such fees were remitted to the county treasurer. That portion  of  the  filing
  7    fees  required  to  be  remitted to a city treasurer for deposit in the city's
  8    general fund shall be remitted within five (5) days after the end of the month
  9    in which such fees were remitted to the county treasurer.
 10        (20) Persons authorized to collect fees. All fees required to be  paid  by
 11    this  section or by rule or administrative order of the supreme court shall be
 12    collected by the clerk of the district court or by a person appointed  by  the
 13    clerk  of  the  district court for this purpose. If it appears that there is a
 14    necessity for such fees to be collected by persons other than the clerk of the
 15    district court or a person designated by  the  clerk  for  such  purpose,  the
 16    supreme  court,  by rule or administrative order, may provide for the designa-
 17    tion of persons authorized to receive such fees. Persons so  designated  shall
 18    account for such fees in the same manner required of the clerk of the district
 19    court and shall pay such fees to the clerk of the district court of the county
 20    in which such fees are collected.
 21        (21) Court  facilities fund fee. In the event a county has not established
 22    a court facilities fund, the ten dollar ($10.00) fee designated for this  fund
 23    shall  be paid into the district court fund pursuant to section 31-3201, Idaho
 24    Code.
 25        (22) Fees set by rule. Fees not covered by this section shall  be  set  by
 26    rule or administrative order of the supreme court.
 27        (23) Duties of clerk. In consideration of the aforesaid fees, the clerk of
 28    the district court shall be required to perform all lawful service that may be
 29    required  of him by any party thereto; provided, that he shall not prepare and
 30    furnish any certified copy of any file or record in an action  except  printed
 31    transcript on appeal, without additional compensation as provided by law.
 32        (24) Additional  fees  in  guardianship  and  conservatorship proceedings.
 33    Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal the additional fees set  forth  in
 34    section 31-3201G, Idaho Code.

 35        SECTION  3.  That  Section  18-918, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 36    amended to read as follows:

 37        18-918.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. (1) For the purpose of this section:
 38        (a)  "Household member" means a person who is a spouse, former spouse,  or
 39        a  person  who  has a child in common regardless of whether they have been
 40        married or a person with whom a person is cohabiting, whether or not  they
 41        have married or have held themselves out to be husband or wife.
 42        (b)  "Traumatic  injury" means a condition of the body, such as a wound or
 43        external or internal injury, whether of a minor or serious nature,  caused
 44        by physical force.
 45        (2)  (a) Any  household  member who in committing a battery, as defined in
 46        section 18-903, Idaho Code, inflicts a traumatic  injury  upon  any  other
 47        household member is guilty of a felony.
 48        (b)  A conviction of felony domestic battery is punishable by imprisonment
 49        in  the  state prison for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or by a fine
 50        not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by both fine and imprison-
 51        ment.
 52        (3)  (a) A household member who commits an assault, as defined in  section
 53        18-901, Idaho Code, against another household member which does not result

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  1        in traumatic injury is guilty of a misdemeanor domestic assault.
  2        (b)  A  household  member  who  commits  a  battery, as defined in section
  3        18-903, Idaho Code, against another household member which does not result
  4        in traumatic injury is guilty of a misdemeanor domestic battery.
  5        (c)  A first conviction under this subsection (3) is punishable by a  fine
  6        not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in a county
  7        jail  not  to exceed six (6) months, or both. Any person who pleads guilty
  8        to or is found guilty of a violation of this subsection (3) who previously
  9        has pled guilty to or been found guilty of a violation of this  subsection
 10        (3),  or  of any substantially conforming foreign criminal violation, not-
 11        withstanding the form of the judgment or  withheld  judgment,  within  ten
 12        (10)  years  of the first conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and
 13        shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for  a  term  not  to
 14        exceed  one  (1)  year  or  by   a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars
 15        ($2,000) or by both fine and imprisonment. Any person who pleads guilty to
 16        or is found guilty of a violation of this subsection  (3)  who  previously
 17        has pled guilty to or been found guilty of two (2) violations of this sub-
 18        section (3), or of any substantially conforming foreign criminal violation
 19        or  any  combination  thereof, notwithstanding the form of the judgment or
 20        withheld judgment, within fifteen (15)  years  of  the  first  conviction,
 21        shall  be  guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the
 22        state prison for a term not to exceed five (5) years or by a fine  not  to
 23        exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by both fine and imprisonment.
 24        (4)  The maximum penalties provided in this section shall be doubled where
 25    the  act  of  domestic assault or battery for which the person is convicted or
 26    pleads guilty took place in the presence of a child. For purposes of this sec-
 27    tion, "in the presence of a child" means in the physical presence of  a  child
 28    or  knowing  that  a  child  is present and may see or hear an act of domestic
 29    assault or battery. For purposes of this section, "child" means a person under
 30    sixteen (16) years of age.
 31        (5)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, any person  who
 32    previously  has  pled  guilty to or been found guilty of a felony violation of
 33    the provisions of this section or  of  any  substantially  conforming  foreign
 34    criminal  felony  violation, notwithstanding the form of the judgment or with-
 35    held judgment, and who within fifteen (15) years pleads guilty to or is  found
 36    guilty  of  any further violation of this section, shall be guilty of a felony
 37    and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a  term  not  to
 38    exceed  ten  (10)  years  or  by  a  fine  not  to exceed ten thousand dollars
 39    ($10,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
 40        (6)  For the purposes of this section, a substantially conforming  foreign
 41    criminal  violation  exists  when  a  person  has pled guilty to or been found
 42    guilty of a violation of any federal law or law of another state, or any valid
 43    county, city or town ordinance of another state, substantially conforming with
 44    the provisions of this section. The determination of whether a foreign  crimi-
 45    nal  violation  is  substantially conforming is a question of law to be deter-
 46    mined by the court.
 47        (7)  (a) Any person who pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a violation
 48        of this section shall undergo, at the person's own expense, an  evaluation
 49        by  a  person,  agency or organization approved by the court in accordance
 50        with paragraph (c) of this subsection to determine whether  the  defendant
 51        should  be  required  to obtain aggression counseling or other appropriate
 52        treatment. Such evaluation shall be completed prior to the sentencing date
 53        if the court's list of approved evaluators, in accordance  with  paragraph
 54        (c)  of  this  subsection, contains evaluators who are able to perform the
 55        evaluation prior to the sentencing dates.  If  the  evaluation  recommends

                                       8

  1        counseling  or other treatment, the evaluation shall recommend the type of
  2        counseling or treatment considered appropriate for the defendant, together
  3        with the estimated costs thereof, and shall recommend any  other  suitable
  4        alternative  counseling or treatment programs, together with the estimated
  5        costs thereof. The defendant shall request that a copy  of  the  completed
  6        evaluation  be forwarded to the court. The court shall take the evaluation
  7        into consideration in determining an appropriate sentence. If  a  copy  of
  8        the completed evaluation has not been provided to the court, the court may
  9        proceed  to  sentence  the  defendant; however, in such event, it shall be
 10        presumed that counseling is required unless the defendant makes a  showing
 11        by  a  preponderance  of  evidence that counseling is not required. If the
 12        defendant has not made a good faith effort to provide the  completed  copy
 13        of  the evaluation to the court, the court may consider the failure of the
 14        defendant to provide the report  as an aggravating circumstance in  deter-
 15        mining  an  appropriate  sentence.  If  counseling  or  other treatment is
 16        ordered, in no event shall the person, agency or  organization  doing  the
 17        evaluation  be  the person, agency or organization that provides the coun-
 18        seling or other treatment unless this requirement is waived  by  the  sen-
 19        tencing court, with the exception of federally recognized Indian tribes or
 20        federal  military  installations, where diagnosis and treatment are appro-
 21        priate and available. Nothing herein contained shall preclude the  use  of
 22        funds  authorized  for  court-ordered  counseling or treatment pursuant to
 23        this section for indigent defendants as provided by law. In the event that
 24        funding is provided for or on behalf of the defendant  by  a  governmental
 25        entity, the defendant shall be ordered to make restitution to such govern-
 26        mental  entity in accordance with the restitution procedure for crime vic-
 27        tims, as specified under chapter 53, title 19, Idaho Code.
 28        (b)  If the evaluation recommends counseling or other treatment, the court
 29        shall order the person to complete the counseling or  other  treatment  in
 30        addition  to  any other sentence which may be imposed. If the court deter-
 31        mines that counseling or treatment would be inappropriate or  undesirable,
 32        the  court shall enter findings articulating the reasons for such determi-
 33        nation on the record. The court shall order the defendant to complete  the
 34        preferred  counseling or treatment program set forth in the evaluation, or
 35        a comparable alternative, unless it appears that the defendant cannot rea-
 36        sonably obtain adequate financial resources for such counseling or  treat-
 37        ment.  In that event, the court may order the defendant to complete a less
 38        costly alternative set forth in the evaluation or  a  comparable  program.
 39        Nothing  contained  in  this  subsection shall be construed as requiring a
 40        court to order that counseling or  treatment  be  provided  at  government
 41        expense unless otherwise required by law.
 42        (c)  Each  judicial  district shall by rule establish a uniform system for
 43        the qualification and approval of persons, agencies  or  organizations  to
 44        perform  the  evaluations  required  in  this  subsection.  Only qualified
 45        evaluators approved by the court shall be authorized to perform such eval-
 46        uations. Funds to establish a system for approval of evaluators  shall  be
 47        derived  from  moneys  designated  therefor  and deposited in the district
 48        court fund as provided in section 31-3201A(q), Idaho Code.
 49        (d)  Counseling or treatment ordered pursuant to  this  section  shall  be
 50        conducted  according  to  standards  established  or approved by the Idaho
 51        council on domestic violence.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                          RS 17495
                              
  This bill would repeal the existing Idaho Code  31-
  3201A and enact a new statute in its place that would more
  accurately reflect the filing fees in civil cases. 
  Currently, several fees are set forth in other sections of
  the Idaho Code that are not reflected in Idaho Code  31-
  3201A.  The new statute would incorporate those fees to
  reflect the exact total fee that is to be charged for each
  filing in a civil case, eliminating much of the confusion
  now encountered by court clerks, attorneys and litigants. 
  In addition, the bill eliminates several of the distinctions
  between filing fees for different types of civil cases.  The
  bill adds the $10 ISTARS fee and the $6 Senior Magistrate
  Judges Fund fee to the filing fee for small claims cases. 
  Further, the bill clarifies that where several defendants
  make their initial appearance in a civil case in the same
  filing, only one initial appearance fee is paid for the
  filing, rather than one fee for each defendant.
  
  
  
                        FISCAL NOTE

  Based on data from calendar year 2006, the following
  funds would receive approximately the following additional
  amounts annually from the changes in fees:
  
       Idaho Code Fund                    $     60
       Judges Retirement Fund             $    108
       State General Fund                 $ 78,442
       County District Court Funds        $150,958
       ISTARS Fund                        $196,260
       Senior Magistrate Judge Fund       $118,950
  
  
  Contact Person:
  Patricia Tobias
  Administrative Director of the Courts
  (208) 334-2246
  
    
  STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                     H 368