COUNTY FINE AND FORFEITURE FUND

F.S. Ch. 142
in effect

F.S. 142.01 Fine and forfeiture fund; disposition of revenue; clerk of the circuit court.

(1)(a) There shall be established by the clerk of the circuit court in each county of this state a separate fund to be known as the fine and forfeiture fund for use by the clerk of the circuit court in performing court-related functions. The fund shall consist of the following: 1. Fines and penalties pursuant to ss. 28.2402(2), 34.045(2), 316.193, 327.35, 327.72, 379.2203(1), and 775.083(1). 2. That portion of civil penalties directed to this fund pursuant to s. 318.21. 3. Court costs pursuant to ss. 28.2402(1)(b), 34.045(1)(b), 318.14(10)(b), 318.18(12)(a), 327.73(9)(a) and (11)(a), and 938.05(3). 4. Proceeds from forfeited bail bonds, unclaimed bonds, unclaimed moneys, or recognizances pursuant to ss. 321.05(4)(a), 379.2203(1), and 903.26(3)(a). 5. Fines and forfeitures pursuant to s. 34.191. 6. Filing fees received pursuant to ss. 28.241 and 34.041, unless the disposition of such fees is otherwise required by law. 7. All other revenues received by the clerk as revenue authorized by law to be retained by the clerk. (b) The clerk of the circuit court in each county may invest funds held in the fine and forfeiture fund as provided in paragraph (a) in an interest-bearing account. (2) Interest earned in the fine and forfeiture fund must be deposited into the Public Records Modernization Trust Fund to be used exclusively for additional court-related operations and enhancements. (3) Notwithstanding this section, all fines and forfeitures arising from operation of s. 318.1215 shall be disbursed in accordance with that section.

F.S. 142.02 Levy of a special tax.

The board of county commissioners of every county may levy a special tax, not to exceed 2 mills, upon the real and personal property of the respective counties, to be assessed and collected as other county taxes are assessed and collected, for such costs of criminal prosecutions. Proceeds of the special tax funds shall be paid out only for criminal expenses, fees, and costs, if the crime was committed in the county, and the fees and costs are a legal claim against the county, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any surplus funds remaining from the tax to fund criminal prosecutions at the end of a fiscal year may be transferred to the county general revenue fund.

F.S. 142.03 Disposition of fines, forfeitures, and civil penalties to municipalities.

Fines, forfeitures, and civil penalties collected in cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, violations of chapter 316 committed within a municipality, or infractions under the provisions of chapter 318 committed within a municipality shall be paid in full each month to the appropriate municipality as provided in ss. 28.2402, 34.045, 316.660, and 318.21.

F.S. 142.09 If defendant is not convicted or dies.

If the defendant is not convicted, or the prosecution is abated by the death of the defendant, or if the costs are imposed on the defendant and execution against him or her is returned no property found, or if a nolle prosse be entered, in each of these cases the fees of witnesses and officers arising from criminal causes shall be paid by the state in the manner specified in s. 40.29; provided, that when a committing trial court judge holds to bail or commits a person to answer to a criminal charge and an information is not filed or an indictment found against such person, the costs and fees of such committing trial shall not be paid by the state, except the costs of executing the warrants.

F.S. 142.15 Prisoner confined in different county.

Where the prisoner is confined in the jail of a different county from the one in which the crime was committed, then the sheriff’s bill for feeding such prisoner shall be presented to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been committed, and paid by such county. If the sheriff should subsequently collect any such fees for feeding a prisoner, he or she shall pay the same to the county in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

F.S. 142.16 Change of venue.

In case of change of venue in any case, all fines and forfeitures in such case go to the clerk in the county in which the case was adjudicated.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter142/AllFetched: 7/8/2026

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