SB 827 (Howell) would have allowed localities to increase assessments made on defendants convicted of violating a statute or ordinance from $10 to up to $20. Revenue from the assessment shall be used for funding courthouse security personnel and, at the request of the sheriff, other security-related equipment and property. The fee hasn’t been raised in 10 years. And, the Compensation Board security staffing standard for courtroom and courthouse security is underfunded by 124 court services deputies with an annualized cost of $4,305,634 across localities.
The House Appropriations Committee’s Public Safety Subcommittee laid the bill on the table by a 5-3 vote.
VACo Contact: Khaki LaRiviere