2006 Minnesota Statutes

611.35 REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC DEFENDER AND APPOINTIVE COUNSEL.
    Subdivision 1. Reimbursement; civil obligation. Any person who is represented by a public
defender or appointive counsel shall, if financially able to pay, reimburse the governmental unit
chargeable with the compensation of such public defender or appointive counsel for the actual
costs to the governmental unit in providing the services of the public defender or appointive
counsel. The court in hearing such matter shall ascertain the amount of such costs to be charged to
the defendant and shall direct reimbursement over a period of not to exceed six months, unless
the court for good cause shown shall extend the period of reimbursement. If a term of probation
is imposed as a part of a sentence, reimbursement of costs as required by this chapter must not
be made a condition of probation. Reimbursement of costs as required by this chapter is a civil
obligation and must not be made a condition of a criminal sentence.
    Subd. 2. Civil action. The county attorney may commence a civil action to recover such cost
remaining unpaid at the expiration of six months unless the court has extended the reimbursement
period and shall, if it appears that such recipient of public defender or appointive counsel services
is about to leave the jurisdiction of the court or sell or otherwise dispose of assets out of which
reimbursement may be obtained, commence such action forthwith. The county attorney may
compromise and settle any claim for reimbursement with the approval of the court which heard
the matter. No determination or action shall be taken later than two years after the termination of
the duties of the public defender or appointive counsel.
History: 1969 c 1002 s 1,2; 1986 c 444; 1995 c 226 art 2 s 30