SENATE BILL 687

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Leonard Tsosie

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE COURTS; PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO REFUND COURT FEES AND COSTS PAID BY NONINDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WHO ARE FOUND NOT GUILTY OR WHOSE CONVICTIONS ARE OVERTURNED ON APPEAL; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 34, Article 2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REFUND OF FEES PERMITTED FOR NONINDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.--Fees and costs paid pursuant to Subsection A of Section 34-2-5 NMSA 1978 by a nonindigent criminal defendant whose conviction is overturned shall be refunded upon request."

     Section 2. Section 34-5-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1966, Chapter 28, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "34-5-6. COURT OF APPEALS--FEES AND COSTS.--

          A. The clerk of the court of appeals shall collect the following fees:

     docket fee, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of

which shall be deposited in the court

         automation fund and one hundred dollars

         ($100) of which shall be deposited in

         the court facilities fund. . . . . . . . . . . $125.00

     docket fee for cases in which a

         motion to docket and dismiss the

         appeal is filed for failure to file a

         docketing statement, ten dollars ($10.00)

         of which shall be deposited in the court

         automation fund and ten dollars ($10.00) of

which shall be deposited in the court facilities fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.00

     single copy of records, per typewritten folio. . . .  .10

     each additional copy of records ordered at

         same time, per typewritten folio. . . . . . . . . .05

     copies of records reproduced by photographic

          process, per page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .10

     comparing copies of records tendered to [him] the clerk,

          per folio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .05

     each certificate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.00.

          B. No fees or costs shall be required in

proceedings in forma pauperis, from state officers acting in their official capacity or in any other case where a statutory exemption exists.

          C. Fees and costs paid by a nonindigent criminal defendant whose conviction is overturned shall be refunded upon request.

          [C.] D. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the clerk of the court of appeals shall pay all fees and costs to the state treasurer for credit to the state general fund."

     Section 3. Section 34-6-40 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 69, Section 42, as amended by Laws 2001, Chapter 277, Section 1 and by Laws 2001, Chapter 279, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "34-6-40. FINANCE--FEES.--

          A. District court clerks shall collect in civil matters docketing any cause, whether original or reopened or by appeal or transfer from any inferior court, a fee of one hundred seven dollars ($107), ten dollars ($10.00) of which shall be deposited in the court automation fund and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of which shall be deposited in the civil legal services fund.

          B. No fees or costs shall be taxed against the state, its political subdivisions or the nonprofit corporations authorized to be formed under the Educational Assistance Act.

          C. Fees and costs paid by a nonindigent criminal defendant who is not convicted shall be returned upon request if the state does not appeal within statutory time frames.

          [C.] D. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, docket fees shall be paid into the general fund."

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