2020 House Bill 5488 / Public Act 151

Let courts keep imposing operations costs on defendants

Introduced in the House

Feb. 13, 2020

Introduced by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-65)

To extend until October, 2023 a law that permits courts to impose any costs on guilty defendants that are reasonably related to the actual costs of operating the court, including building maintenance expenses, court employee benefit expenses and more, and do so without tying those expenses to the particular case. The controversial 2014 law that authorized these impositions has already been extended once, and the introduced version of this bill would have added another three years, not two years.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

May 13, 2020

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 19, 2020

Passed in the House 101 to 4 (details)

To extend until October, 2022 a law that permits courts to impose any costs on guilty defendants that are reasonably related to the actual costs of operating the court, including building maintenance expenses, court employee benefit expenses and more, and do so without tying those expenses to the particular case. The controversial 2014 law that authorized these impositions has already been extended once.

Received in the Senate

May 20, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

July 23, 2020

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Sept. 1, 2020

Passed in the Senate 29 to 8 (details)

To extend until October of 2022 a law that permits courts to impose any costs on guilty defendants that are reasonably related to the to the court's operating expenses, including building maintenance, court employee benefits and more, and do so without tying those expenses to the particular case. Also, to allow courts to continue loading a pro-rated share of their total costs onto defendants until Oct. 17, 2022.

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Sept. 17, 2020