A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to decrease or eliminate various court costs and fees.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 7A‑304 reads as rewritten:
"§ 7A‑304.  Costs in criminal actions.
(a)	In every criminal case in the superior or district court, wherein the defendant is convicted, or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or when costs are assessed against the prosecuting witness, the following costs shall be assessed and collected. No costs may be assessed when a case is dismissed. Only upon entry of a written order, supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law, determining that there is just cause, the court may (i) waive costs assessed under this section or (ii) waive or reduce costs assessed under subdivision (7), (8), (8a), (11), (12), or (13) of this section. No court may waive or remit all or part of any court fines or costs without providing notice and opportunity to be heard by all government entities directly affected. The court shall provide notice to the government entities directly affected of (i) the date and time of the hearing and (ii) the right to be heard and make an objection to the remission or waiver of all or part of the order of court costs at least 15 days prior to hearing. Notice shall be made to the government entities affected by first‑class mail to the address provided for receipt of court costs paid pursuant to the order. The costs referenced in this subsection are listed below:
…
(4)	For support of the General Court of Justice, the sum of one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($125.00) in the district court, including cases before a magistrate, and the sum of one hundred thirty dollars ($130.00) in the superior court, to be remitted to the State Treasurer. For a person convicted of a felony in superior court who has made a first appearance in district court, both the district court and superior court fees shall be assessed. The State Treasurer shall remit the sum of ninety‑five cents ($.95) of each fee collected under this subdivision to the North Carolina State Bar for the provision of services described in G.S. 7A‑474.19.
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(f)	The court may allow a defendant owing monetary obligations under this section to either make payment in full when costs are assessed or make payment on an installment plan arranged with the court.
…."
SECTION 1.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2024, and applies to each of the following:
(1)	Court costs imposed on or after that date.
(2)	Installment plans set up on or after that date.
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 20‑135.2A(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	Any driver or front seat passenger who fails to wear a seat belt as required by this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of twenty‑five dollars and fifty cents ($25.50) 

	
	and no court costs.
Any rear seat occupant of a vehicle who fails to wear a seat belt as required by this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) and no court costs. Conviction of an infraction under this section has no other consequence."
SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2024, and applies to infractions committed on or after that date.
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 143B‑1483(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	A fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be paid by all persons who participate in the program or receive services from the program staff, except that the fee may be waived pursuant to the same requirements for waiving court costs under G.S. 7A‑304. Only one fee may be assessed for each sentencing transaction, even if the person is assigned to the program on more than one occasion, or while on deferred prosecution, under a conditional discharge, or serving a sentence for the offense. A sentencing transaction shall include all offenses considered and adjudicated during the same term of court. Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the General Fund. If the person is convicted in a court in this State, the fee shall be paid to the clerk of court in the county in which the person is convicted, regardless of whether the person is participating in the program as a condition of parole, of probation imposed by the court, or pursuant to the exercise of authority delegated to the probation officer pursuant to G.S. 15A‑1343.2(e) or (f). If the person is participating in the program as a result of a conditional discharge or a deferred prosecution or similar program, the fee shall be paid to the clerk of court in the county in which the agreement is filed. Persons participating in the program for any other reason shall pay the fee to the clerk of court in the county in which the services are provided by the program staff. Unless waived, the fee shall be paid in full before the person may participate in the community service program, except that:
…."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2024, and applies to fees assessed on or after that date.
SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.