No money? No problem! pay your fees at a buck per slave hour

Illinois has a proposition for all you out-of-work registrants who can't afford that hundred buck per year registry fee. Just work for the state at a measly one dollar per hour. That's right, if you don't have a Benjamin to swear fealty to registry overlords, you can work off your debt by working 100 hours of community service. A hundred bucks or a hundred hours. Do the math, Illin'-noise:

http://news.ilhousegop.org/2012/03/rep-hammond-passes-legislation-allowing-community-service-if-sex-offenders-can-not-pay-annual-registration-fee/


Rep. Hammond Passes Legislation Allowing Community Service if Sex Offenders Can Not Pay Annual Registration Fee


Springfield, IL…On Wednesday, State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) passed legislation out of the Illinois House that will allow indigent sex offenders, who can not afford to pay the $100 dollar registration and annual renewal fees, to instead perform 100 hours of community service.


“This idea was brought to me by the Sheriffs Association who noticed that sex offenders were frequently claiming they were indigent in order to avoid having to pay the required registration fee,” Rep. Hammond said.  “Because so many continued to have their fees waived, there was no money available to support the sex offender database and registration system.  By requiring 100 hours of community service as an alternative, the thought is that many more offenders will be willing to pay the annual fees.”


House Bill 4670 will allow sex offenders, who claim indigence in order to avoid registration fees, to complete 100 hours of community service within 90 days of their required registration date, if community service is available in the area.  Currently, sex offenders are required to pay a $100 initial registration fee and $100 for each annual registration.  If they can not afford to pay the entire amount at once, a payment plan can be established.


“I am hopeful that this alternative will increase the incentive for sex offenders to pay the fees.  Instead of simply being able to claim indigence and not having to face the penalties, they will now have a choice to do 100 hours of community service or pay the fine.  I think a number of these folks will choose to pay the fee,” said Rep. Hammond.


House Bill 4670 passed the Illinois House and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Here is Norine Hammond's info:

Representative Norine Hammond (R)
94th District

Springfield Office: 213-N Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL   62706 (217) 782-0416 (217) 557-4530 FAX District Office: 331 N. Lafayette Street P.O. Box 170 Macomb, IL  61455 (309) 836-2707 (309) 836-2231 FAX McDonough County

Email: rephammond@macomb.com

Years served: December 2010 - Present