top of page
istockphoto-1321765738-612x612.jpg

House Bill 1432 and Senate Bill 5474

[Bills are not progressing]

This bill would ensure young people are not forced to pay fines and fees if charged or convicted of a crime.

SUMMARY

  • The bill would eliminate the fines, penalties, and other fees a young person is currently required to pay as a result of a criminal charge or conviction.

  • The bill also creates the Community Compensation Program and Community Compensation Task Force.

    • These groups must help work towards the elimination of costs young people must pay when charged or convicted of crimes, as well as develop approaches to compensate those who may have been harmed by a young person. This work will be centered on restorative principles.

  • The court will be required to seal records that were previously not allowed to be sealed because of a young person's unpaid fines or fees.

POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL

Nearly every person convicted in a Washington court faces court debt, but those who are already navigating poverty shoulder the most harm. People who are unable to pay face long-term financial consequences and continued system involvement for having unpaid legal fees and fines. Read this report for more.

​

For information on outstanding juvenile fines & fees in Washington, check out the Debt Free Youth Justice Washington Coalition.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Steps to Get Started

  1. Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
  2. If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.​
  3. If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
  4. Spread the word and get other people on board.

Participating in a Hearing

Sign in Pro, Con, or Other

This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.

Submit Written Testimony

Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known, to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don't want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.

Testify Virtually 

Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom. 

Testify In Person

To testify on a bill in person, you must travel to Olympia and join the real-time committee hearing on the Capitol campus. You will also get between 1-2 minutes to state your opinion. This is often a powerful way to make an impression on legislators in the room.

Using the WA Legislature Website

bottom of page