Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, Regular Session

CHAPTER 200--H.F.No. 2660

An act

relating to courts; amending partial payment or reimbursement of costs from a party proceeding in forma pauperis;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 563.01, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 563.01, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Authorization of forma pauperis.

(a) Any court of the state of Minnesota or any political subdivision thereof may authorize the commencement or defense of any civil action, or appeal therein, without prepayment of fees, costs and security for costs by a natural person who makes affidavit stating (a) the nature of the action, defense or appeal, (b) a belief that affiant is entitled to redress, and (c) that affiant is financially unable to pay the fees, costs and security for costs.

(b) Upon a finding by the court that the action is not of a frivolous nature, the court shall allow the person to proceed in forma pauperis if the affidavit is substantially in the language required by this subdivision and is not found by the court to be untrue. Persons meeting the requirements of this subdivision include, but are not limited to, a person who is receiving public assistance new text begin described in section 550.37, subdivision 14 new text end , who is represented by an attorney on behalf of a civil legal services program or a volunteer attorney program based on indigency, or who has an annual income not greater than 125 percent of the poverty line established under United States Code, title 42, section 9902(2), except as otherwise provided by section 563.02.

(c) If, at deleted text begin or following deleted text end commencement of the action, the new text begin court finds that a new text end party deleted text begin is or becomes deleted text end new text begin does not meet the eligibility criteria under paragraph (b), but the court also finds that the party is not new text end able to pay all deleted text begin or a portion deleted text end of the fees, costs, and security for costs, the court may order payment of a fee of $75 deleted text begin or reimbursement deleted text end or partial payment deleted text begin of all or a portion deleted text end of the fees, costs, and security for costs, to be paid as directed by the court.

The court administrator shall transmit any fees or payments to the commissioner of management and budget for deposit in the state treasury and credit to the general fund.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 563.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 8a. new text end

new text begin Reimbursement. new text end

new text begin Following commencement of the action, the court may order reimbursement of all or a portion of any fees, costs, and security for costs if the party either (1) no longer meets the eligibility criteria under subdivision 3, paragraph (b); or (2) the amount ordered under subdivision 3, paragraph (c), is no longer appropriate because the party is able to pay a higher amount. The reimbursement must be paid as directed by the court. new text end

Presented to the governor May 5, 2014

Signed by the governor May 6, 2014, 10:08 a.m.