(The Center Square) – An Arkansas committee studying the state’s court system recommended the elimination of a $10 monthly fee imposed on Arkansans who make court payments in installments.
The state could pick up the $11 million in revenue generated by the fee, but no decision was made, according to a vote of the House and Senate Judiciary committees on Monday. That would be up to the Arkansas State Legislature.
The $10 fee is split between several accounts, according to Rep. Carol Dalby, R-Texarkana, who chaired the meeting.
“Two-fifty goes to the Local Automation Fund Account, which the district judges oversee. $2.50 goes to AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) for their automation account and all of that,” Dalby said. “And the other $5 left goes into that AOJ fund, Administration of Justice Fund,” which gets to divvied out to, I think we are up to 24 or maybe 25 different entities.”
In some cases, the installment fees paid by a defendant exceed the original fine or restitution, according to Mark Whitmore of the Association of Arkansas Counties.