Tennessee House OKs bill that lets courts add collection agency fee to fines

Tennessee State Rep. Vince Dean

NASHVILLE – Lawmakers today gave final approval today to a bill that permits local court officials across the state to add on an additional fee if they have to use an outside collection agency to pursue unpaid criminal court fines and fees.

The House passed the bill 94-0. Senators earlier approved the bill earlier.

“What this does is it passes the cost of that on to the defendant,” said Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

For example, if a convicted criminal defendant has a $100 fine, an outside collection agency currently keeps a percentage of that, say 20 percent, Dean said.

“They keep $20 dollars and send $80” to the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk’s office, Dean noted.