PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 598

CHAPTER 598
(Senate Bill 741)

AN ACT concerning

Court Costs - Victims of Crime

FOR the purpose of requiring a court for a certain fiscal year to impose an additional
court cost on certain criminal defendants; requiring that the fees collected be
deposited to a certain fund; prohibiting a court from waiving any court costs for a
certain fiscal year except under certain circumstances; authorizing the Governor to
make certain transfers by budget amendment; and generally relating to the victims
of crime and imposition of additional court costs on certain criminal defendants.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 204 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1993, as amended by Chapter

474 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1994 and Chapter 396 of the Acts

of the General Assembly of 1995
Section 20

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Chapter 204 of the Acts of 1993, as amended by Chapter 474 of the Acts of 1994 and

Chapter 396 of the Acts of 1995

SECTION 20. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any
other provision of law, for fiscal year [1996] 1997, in every case in which a defendant is
found guilty, enters a plea of guilt or nolo contendere, or is given probation before
judgment for an offense under the Motor Vehicle Law that is punishable by imprisonment
or for any other criminal offense, including cases in which the defendant is represented by
the Office of Public Defender, the District Court and the circuit courts shall require the
defendant to pay an additional court cost of $5. The court cost imposed under this section
shall be in addition to any other court costs imposed in the District Court and the circuit
courts. For fiscal year [ 1996] 1997, the court may not waive any court cost including the
court cost imposed under this section unless the defendant establishes indigency as
provided in the Maryland Rules. The funds collected under this section shall be remitted
to the Comptroller and credited to the [ General Fund] MARYLAND VICTIMS OF CRIME
FUND.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, any moneys credited to the Maryland Victims of Crime Fund from the
fee collected under this Act may be transferred by the Governor by budget amendment to
the Victim and Witness Protection and Relocation Program.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1996.

Approved May 23, 1996.

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