(a) Any hardship debtor seeking relief pursuant to this Article for an FDO shall apply for such relief through procedures established by the Department. If an application is approved, a hardship debtor shall pay any restitution amount in full plus fifty percent of the fine amount ordered in any FDOs issued prior to the application or enroll in a hardship payment plan for that same amount. After an application is approved, no additional FDOs entered after such date shall be eligible for relief.
(b) Following payment of the restitution amount in full plus fifty percent of the fine amount ordered in the FDO by a hardship debtor, or upon completion of a hardship payment plan pursuant to its terms, the Department shall: (1) waive all other costs associated with the paid fine or restitution; (2) the City shall not seek civil or criminal prosecution for the failure to have paid any fine, restitution, or other costs for that administrative hearing violation; and (3) waive any remaining fines associated with the administrative hearing violations paid by the hardship debtor in accordance with this Section or that were included in a hardship payment plan.
(c) If a hardship debtor fails to complete any of the requirements of this Article: (i) all other costs associated with the administrative hearing violation remain due and owing; (ii) no relief is available under this Article; and (iii) invoices, collection letters, or other documents created in response to an application for relief under this Article that show the balance of an administrative hearing violation shall not be used as evidence of the current balance of said administrative hearing violation.
(d) In no event shall any relief granted under this Article entitle a hardship debtor to a refund for any amounts paid prior to seeking debt relief under this Article.
(e) A hardship debtor may only be granted relief under this Article XVII for one approved application made pursuant to Section 2-32-1720(a).
(Added Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6700, Art. II, § 1)