HB143.html

To amend Code Section 15-11-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to expenses charged to the county and payment by parents or guardians, so as to provide for orders of the juvenile court to reimburse counties, the Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Juvenile Justice for certain expenses relating to juvenile court hearings and expenses for the care, treatment, support, or detention of children; to provide for notice, hearing, and a finding by the juvenile court that the parents or guardians are financially able to pay all or a part of such costs; to provide procedures for remitting such payments and for deposit of payments to the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Juvenile Justice in the general fund of the state; to provide for consolidation of hearings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Code Section 15-11-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to expenses charged to the county and payment by parents, is amended by striking subsection (b) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(b) If, after due notice to the parents or other persons legally obligated to care for and support the child and after affording them an opportunity to be heard, the court finds that they are financially able to pay all or part of the costs and expenses stated in subsection (a) of this Code section, the court ~~may~~ shall order them to pay the same and prescribe the manner of payment. In addition, the court may order payment from the parents or other legally obligated persons to reimburse all or part of the costs and expenses of the Department of Human Resources for treatment, care, and support of the child. Unless otherwise ordered, payment shall be made to the clerk of the court for remittance to the person or agency~~, including the Department of Human Resources,~~ to whom compensation is due or, if the costs and expenses have been paid by the county, to the appropriate officer of the county.
(c) If, after due notice to the parents or other persons legally obligated to care for and support the child and after affording them an opportunity to be heard, the court finds that they are financially able to pay all or part of the costs and expenses of the Department of Human Resources or the Department of Juvenile Justice for care, treatment, support, or detention of the child, the court shall order payment from the parents or other legally obligated persons to reimburse all or part of the costs and expenses of the Department of Human Resources or the Department of Juvenile Justice for care, treatment, support, or detention of the child. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, payment shall be made to the clerk of the court for remittance to the applicable department, and the department shall transfer any such payment to the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services for deposit into the general fund of the state. The Department of Human Resources and the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide an annual accounting of such funds to the Governor and the General Assembly.
(d) Hearings held in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section may be consolidated by the court."