AR HB1909

Exempts persons convicted of criminal offenses from paying court-ordered civil penalties, costs, fees, and fines while incarcerated in local/county jails, Department of Community Correction facilities, Department of Correction facilities, federal prisons, federal immigration detention facilities, or confined to hospitals/in-patient facilities for mental, physical, or emotional conditions.

Exempts persons from paying court-ordered restitution during incarceration or hospital confinement only if previously found to be indigent by the sentencing court.

Requires persons released from incarceration or discharged from hospital/in-patient facilities to begin payment of remaining court-ordered obligations within 60 days.

Allows persons unable to begin payment after 60 days to appear before court and request an additional 60-day extension based on unemployment, health problems, poverty, or other just cause if the court finds merit in the explanation.

Permits unlimited court appearances to address payment of remaining obligations without restriction on the number of extension requests.