Chapter 15. County Financial Evaluation Officer of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 15.

The board of supervisors of any county may designate a county officer to make financial evaluations of defendants and other persons liable for reimbursable costs under the law. A county officer so designated shall be known as the county financial evaluation officer, whose duties shall be to determine, according to the standards set by the board of supervisors and at the direction of the court, the financial ability of parties who have incurred, or will incur, attorney's fees or other court-related or court-ordered costs, which costs by law must be waived or the services provided free of charge if the party is indigent.

A county financial evaluation officer is authorized to perform the functions of a probation officer set forth in Sections 275, 276, and 323 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and Sections 1685 to 1687, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure.

A county financial evaluation officer is authorized to make financial evaluations and collect moneys pursuant to Section 3112 of the Family Code; Sections 987.4, 987.8, 1203, 1203.1, 1203.1b, 1203.1c, 1203.1e, 1205, and 1209 of the Penal Code; and Sections 353, 353.5, 376, 700, 727, 751, 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

In any court where a financial evaluation officer is available, prior to the furnishing of counsel or legal assistance by the court, the court shall give notice to the defendant that the court, after a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code, shall make a determination of the ability of the defendant to pay all or a portion of the cost of counsel. The court shall give the defendant notice of his or her procedural rights under Section 27755 of the Government Code. The court shall also give notice that, if the court determines that the defendant has the financial ability, the court shall order him or her to pay all or a part of such cost in a manner which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the defendant's financial ability. The notice shall inform the defendant that the order shall have the same force and effect as a judgment in a civil action and shall be subject to enforcement against the property of the defendant in the same manner as any other money judgment. The notice shall also inform the defendant that if he or she is ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer and fails to so appear, an order for the full cost of the legal assistance provided shall be entered against him or her. The provisions of this section shall apply to all proceedings, including contempt proceedings, in which the party is represented by a public defender or appointed counsel.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Penal Code to the contrary, in any court where a county financial evaluation officer is available, if there are any costs which a person might have to reimburse the county for under the Penal Code based on his or her financial ability at the conclusion of the proceedings, the court shall order such person to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, who shall make an inquiry into such person's ability to pay these costs, as well as other court-related costs. When the person is so ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, the court shall then determine if there are other costs which he or she might have to pay that depend on his or her financial ability, and if so, shall order that the county financial evaluation officer make an inquiry into the person's ability to pay all or a portion of all such costs. The person shall have the right to dispute the county financial officer's evaluation, in which case he or she shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code in the court that concluded the proceedings. If the person, after having been ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, has been given proper notice and fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer as ordered, the county financial evaluation officer shall recommend to the court that the person be ordered to pay the full amount of such costs. Proper notice to the person shall contain all of the following:
  (a) That he or she has a right to a statement of such cost as soon as it is available.
  (b) The person's procedural rights under Section 27755 of the Government Code.
  (c) The time limit within which the person's appearance is required.
  (d) A warning that if the person fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, such officer will recommend that the court order the person to pay such cost in full. If the county financial evaluation officer determines that the person has the ability to pay all or a portion of these costs, with or without terms, and he or she concurs in this determination and agrees to the terms of payment, the county financial evaluation officer, upon his or her written evaluation and the person's written agreement, shall petition the court for an order requiring the person to pay that sum to the county in a manner which is reasonable and compatible with the person's financial ability. This order need not be obtained in the court which concluded the proceedings, and may be granted without further notice to the person, provided a copy of the order is served on the person by mail. However, if the county financial evaluation officer cannot reach an agreement with the person with respect to either the person's liability for the costs, the amount of such costs, his or her ability to pay the same, or the terms of payment, the matter shall be deemed in dispute and referred by the county financial evaluation officer back to the court for a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code.

(a) At any hearing required by law to determine a person's ability to pay court-related costs, such person shall have the right to be heard in person and to be represented by counsel, to present witnesses and other evidence, to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, to have the evidence against him or her disclosed to him or her, and to have a written statement of the findings of the court. A defendant represented by counsel appointed by the court in the criminal proceedings shall be entitled to such representation at any hearing held pursuant to this section. If the court determines that such person has the ability to pay all or a part of the costs, the court may set the amount to be reimbursed and order him or her to pay that sum to the county in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with his or her financial ability. Failure of any such person who is not in custody to appear after proper notice for his or her financial evaluation before a county financial evaluation officer, or for this hearing, is a sufficient basis for an order directing the person to pay the full cost of his or her court-related costs as determined by the court. Proper notice to the person shall contain all of the following:
  (1) That he or she has a right to a statement of such cost as soon as it is available.
  (2) The person's procedural rights under this section.
  (3) The time limit within which the person's appearance is required.
  (4) A warning that if the person fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, the county financial evaluation officer will recommend that the court order the person to pay such cost in full. The order to pay all or a part of such costs may be enforced in the manner provided for enforcement of money judgments generally, including any balance remaining unpaid at the end of the person's probationary period, but may not be enforced by contempt unless otherwise provided for by law. Any order entered under this subdivision is subject to relief under the provisions of Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
  (b) As used in this section:
  (1) "Legal assistance" means legal counsel and supportive services including, but not limited to, medical and psychiatric examinations, investigative services, expert testimony and any other form of services provided to assist the person in the preparation and presentation of the person's case.
  (2) "Ability to pay" means the overall capability of the person to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs involved and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
  (A) The person's present financial position.
  (B) The person's reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the court consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing or evaluation, whichever is applicable, for purposes of determining the person's reasonably discernible future financial position. Unless the court finds unusual circumstances, a defendant sentenced to state prison shall be determined not to have a reasonably discernible future financial ability to reimburse the costs involved, and need not be referred to the county financial evaluation officer for a financial evaluation.
  (C) The likelihood that the person shall be able to obtain employment within a six-month period from the date of the hearing or evaluation, whichever is applicable.
  (D) Any other factor or factors which may bear upon the person's financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs involved.
  (c) If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay all or a part of the cost, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order the person to pay the sum to the county in a manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the person's financial ability. Failure of a person who is not in custody to appear at the evaluation or the hearing after due notice is sufficient grounds for an order directing the person to pay the amount of such costs as determined by the court. The order to pay all or a part of the costs may be enforced in the manner provided for enforcement of money judgments generally, but may not be enforced by contempt. An order entered pursuant to this subdivision is subject to relief under Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
  (d) At any time during the pendency of the judgment rendered according to the terms of this section, a person against whom a judgment has been rendered may petition the rendering court to modify or vacate said judgment on the grounds of a change in circumstances with regard to the person's ability to pay the judgment. The court shall advise the person of this right at the time it renders the judgment.

Notwithstanding Section 903.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, in any county where the board of supervisors has designated a county financial evaluation officer, the county financial evaluation officer shall make financial evaluations of parental liability for reimbursements and other court-ordered costs pursuant to Sections 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as directed by the board of supervisors, or as established by order of the juvenile court, and may enforce the court order as any other civil judgment, including any balance remaining unpaid after jurisdiction of the minor has terminated.

(a) Except as otherwise ordered by the juvenile court, a county financial evaluation officer, upon satisfactory proof, may reduce, cancel, or remit the costs and charges listed in Sections 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or established by order of the juvenile court.
  (b) The county financial evaluation officer may, following entry of an order by the juvenile court that a minor person be represented by the public defender or private attorney or be placed under the probation supervision of the probation officer or be placed or detained in, or committed to, a county institution or other place, make an investigation to determine the moneys, the property, or interest in property, if any, the minor person has, and whether he or she has a duly appointed and acting guardian to protect his or her property interests. The county financial evaluation officer may also make an investigation to determine whether the minor person has any relative or relatives responsible under the provisions of this chapter, and may ascertain the financial condition of that relative or those relatives to determine whether they are financially able to pay such charges.
  (c) In any case where a county has expended money for the support and maintenance of any ward, dependent child or other minor person, or has furnished support and maintenance, and the court has not made an order of reimbursement to the county, in whole or in part, as provided by law, or the court has made and subsequently revoked such an order, if the ward, dependent child or other minor person or parent, guardian, or other person liable for the support of the ward, dependent child or other minor person acquires property, money, or estate subsequent to the date the juvenile court assumed jurisdiction over the ward, dependent child or minor person, or subsequent to the date the order of reimbursement was revoked, the county shall have a claim for said reimbursement against the ward, dependent child or other minor person or parent, guardian or other person responsible for such support and maintenance. Such claim shall be enforced by the county financial evaluation officer or the local child support agency, as the case may be.

Any report of the county financial evaluation officer filed with the court may be inspected or copied only as follows:
  (a) By any person, from the date judgment is pronounced or probation granted or, in the case of a report arising out of a previous arrest, from the date the subsequent accusatory pleading is filed, to and including 60 days from the date judgment is pronounced or probation is granted, whichever is earlier.
  (b) By any person, at any time, by order of the court, upon filing a petition therefor by such person.
  (c) By the general public, if the court upon its own motion orders that a report or reports shall be open or that the contents of the report or reports shall be disclosed.
  (d) By any person authorized or required by law to inspect or receive copies of the report.