HB3525 Summary

• Removes the provision allowing courts to grant full assessment waivers to indigent criminal defendants and replaces it with a partial assessment waiver system based on income levels.

• Establishes tiered partial waivers for criminal offenses in Schedules 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8: 75% waived for income 200-250% of poverty level, 50% waived for 250-300%, and 25% waived for 300-400% of poverty level.

• Establishes lower tiered partial waivers for traffic and petty offenses in Schedules 2, 6, 9, 10, and 13: 50% waived at or below 200% of poverty level, with decreasing percentages (37.5%, 25%, 12.5%) at higher income thresholds.

• Requires defendants to submit written applications for waivers within 30 days after sentencing and directs courts to consider factors including public benefits received, employment status, monthly expenses, and financial hardship documentation.

• Directs court clerks to provide waiver applications to defendants indicating inability to pay and post bilingual notices (English and Spanish) in courthouses informing defendants they may request partial waivers.