Skip to main content
HR 5846 98th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Civil procedure Correctional personnel Corrections and Correctional Institutions Courts and Civil Procedure Criminal procedure and sentencing Fines (Penalties) Insanity defense Liens Magistrates Parole Poor Probation Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Criminal Fine Enforcement Act of 1984

Introduced: June 14, 1984 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 30, 1984
Became Public Law No: 98-596.
Oct 30, 1984
Signed by President.
Oct 29, 1984
Presented to President.
Oct 28, 1984
Measure Signed in Senate.
Oct 11, 1984
House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
Oct 11, 1984
Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
Oct 11, 1984
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 11, 1984
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 11, 1984
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Aug 1, 1984
Received in the Senate, read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1080.
Jul 30, 1984
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 30, 1984
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 30, 1984
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Jul 25, 1984
Placed on Union Calendar No: 519.
Jul 25, 1984
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on The Judiciary. Report No: 98-906.
Jun 26, 1984
Ordered to be Reported.
Jun 26, 1984
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 14, 1984
For Previous Action See H.R.5684.
Jun 14, 1984
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Jun 14, 1984
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Criminal Fine Enforcement Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code in regard to the collection and payment of fines and penalties.

Provides that a judgment may direct imprisonment until a fine or penalty is paid if the court finds that the defendant has the present ability to pay such fine or penalty.

States that a judgment imposing the payment of a fine or penalty is a lien in favor of the United States and it applies to all property of the defendant other than property exempt from levy under the Internal Revenue Code.

States that payment of a fine is due immediately unless the court requires payment by installment or by any date certain. Allows the Attorney General to make payment due immediately upon the default of any installment payment.

Requires the defendant to pay interest at a rate of 1.5 percent per month on any amount of a fine or penalty that is past due (plus an extra 25 percent if the delinquency extends beyond 90 days).

Allows the Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to provide by regulation that fines for specified categories of offenses be paid to the clerk of the court.

Provides that if the fine is imposed on an organization, payments are authorized from the assets of the organization; but if the fine is imposed on a director, officer, employee, or agent of the organization, payment shall not be authorized from organization assets unless expressly permitted by State law.

Requires a defendant to pay a fine made a condition of probation even after the probation's end.

Provides penalties for criminal default on a fine.

Lists factors that the court must consider in determining whether to impose a fine, including: (1) the ability of the defendant to pay; (2) the burden that payment will impose on the defendant; and (3) any restitution or reparation made by the defendant.

States that if a defendant has the obligation to make restitution to a victim of the offense, the court shall impose a fine only to the extent that such fine will not impair the ability of the defendant to make restitution.

Increases the maximum fine levels for certain felonies, misdemeanors, and offenses which result in pecuniary gain.

Provides a procedure for establishing security if a fine is stayed.

Conditions parole upon a diligent effort to pay a fine.

Increases the fine for the commission of a misdemeanor to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization.

What's happening now October 30, 1984

Became Public Law No: 98-596.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1