Court fees and costs: waiver.

Existing law requires the court to grant a fee waiver to an applicant at any stage of the proceedings at both the appellate and trial court levels if the applicant meets specified standards of eligibility and application requirements, including a person who is receiving certain public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income or Medi-Cal, or who has a monthly income of 125% or less of the current poverty guidelines, as specified. An initial fee waiver excuses the applicant from paying, among other fees and costs, fees for the first pleading and other court fees and costs as specified in rules adopted by the Judicial Council. Existing law requires an applicant for a fee waiver to complete, under penalty of perjury, a Judicial Council application form containing specified information. This bill would additionally require a court to grant a fee waiver to an applicant who receives benefits under the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program) , or who receives unemployment compensation. The bill would eliminate the fee waiver for a person who has a monthly income of 125% or less of the current poverty guidelines, and instead would grant a fee waiver for an applicant who is a member of a low-income family, as defined, for the county that has the highest low-income limit in the state. The bill would require the Judicial Council to annually publish a table establishing the threshold monthly household income for this income-based fee waiver. By requiring an applicant who is requesting a fee waiver based on receiving WIC Program benefits or unemployment to complete, under penalty of perjury, a Judicial Council application form and a financial statement, this bill would expand the crime of perjury and impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.