HB 243 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb243-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to withholding funds from the return 2
of cash bonds; amending s. 903.286, F.S.; requiring a 3
clerk of the court to withhold from the return of a 4
cash bond posted by a criminal defendant or his or her 5
spouse, rather than to withhold from the return of a 6
cash bond posted on behalf of the criminal defendant 7
by a person other than a bail bond agent, funds for 8
specified purposes; requiring all cash bond forms to 9
display a specified notice; providing an effective 10
date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 903.286, Florida Statutes, is amended 15
to read: 16
903.286 Return of cash bond; requirement to withhold 17
unpaid fines, fees, and court costs; cash bond forms. — 18
(1) Notwithstanding s. 903.31(2), the clerk of the court 19
shall withhold from the return of a cash bond posted by on 20
behalf of a criminal defendant or his or her spouse by a person 21
other than a bail bond agent licensed pursuant to chapter 648 22
sufficient funds to pay any unpaid costs of prosecution, costs 23
of representation as provided by ss. 27.52 and 938.29, court 24
fees, court costs, and criminal penalties. If sufficient funds 25
HB 243 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb243-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
are not available to pay a ll unpaid costs of prosecution, costs 26
of representation as provided by ss. 27.52 and 938.29, court 27
fees, court costs, and criminal penalties, the clerk of the 28
court shall immediately obtain payment from the defendant or 29
enroll the defendant in a payment pl an pursuant to s. 28.246. 30
(2) All cash bond forms used in conjunction with the 31
requirements of s. 903.09 must prominently display a notice 32
explaining all of the following: 33
(a) That all funds are subject to forfeiture . and 34
withholding by 35
(b) The clerk of the court is authorized to withhold funds 36
posted by a criminal defendant or his or her spouse for the 37
payment of costs of prosecution, costs of representation as 38
provided by ss. 27.52 and 938.29, court fees, court costs, and 39
criminal penalties on behalf of the criminal defendant 40
regardless of who posted the funds . 41
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 42