Georgia committee approves bill to require courts to report juvenile fines, fees and collection status

The House Judiciary Juvenile Committee approved House Bill 1429 (LC481805S) after adding data fields for a child’s age and the court jurisdiction, directing juvenile courts to report the types and amounts of monetary sanctions imposed on juvenile cases and whether those monies were collected.

Representative Ballard, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee: "This bill will require the reporting of what sentence was imposed, the amount of monetary fee or fine, and the collection of this money." He emphasized the measure does not change sentencing policy; it would only increase transparency about what sanctions are assessed and whether funds are recovered.

Committee members questioned the bill’s scope and timing. Representative Draper proposed adding age and court-jurisdiction data to allow comparisons across courts and age groups; Ballard accepted those as friendly amendments. Draper noted an ambiguity in the substitute about whether reporting is triggered only after final adjudication or earlier in the process and said the amendment would aid analysis across jurisdictions.

Tracy Mason, deputy director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, said the substitute language was intended to align this provision with existing code and with the data elements juvenile court clerks already submit through JDECS. "That language that begins with ‘each clerk of the juvenile court shall collect’ ... is consistent with other areas where that provides for data collection," she said, explaining the change is meant to standardize reporting practices.

Dr. Danielle Pilgrim, director of public policy at the Deep Center, which serves youth in Savannah, urged support. She said her organization had sought county-level records in all 159 counties and often could not obtain comprehensive information. "This small change ... provides clarity, transparency, and gives lawmakers the ability to make informed decisions on the effectiveness and the fiscal soundness of our systems," Pilgrim told the committee.

The committee adopted the amendment to add age and court jurisdiction (moved by Representative Draper and seconded by Representative Sharper) and then approved HB 1429, LC481805S, as amended by voice vote. The chair closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting.

Next steps: the bill passed out of the Judiciary Juvenile Committee as amended; no further procedural timing or floor action was recorded in the hearing transcript.