S.B. No. 600
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to compensation paid to statutory county court judges and
  certain court-related fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 25.0005,
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A statutory county court judge, other than a statutory
  county court judge who engages in the private practice of law [or a
  judge in whose court fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b)
  are not collected], shall be paid a total annual salary set by the
  commissioners court at an amount that is not less than [at least
  equal to the amount that is] $1,000 less than the total annual
  salary received by a district judge in the county [on August 31,
  1999]. A district judge's or statutory county court judge's total
  annual salary includes contributions and supplements, paid by the
  state or a county, other than contributions received as
  compensation under Section 74.051.
         (b)  Subject to any salary requirements otherwise imposed by
  this chapter for a particular court or county, the commissioners
  court sets the salary of each statutory county court judge who
  engages in the private practice of law [or in whose court fees and
  costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b) are not collected].
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 25.0015, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Beginning on the first day of the state fiscal year, the
  state shall annually compensate each county [that collects the
  additional fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b)] in an
  amount equal to 60 percent of the state salary of a district court
  judge in the county [$35,000] for each statutory county court judge
  in the county who:
               (1)  does not engage in the private practice of law; and
               (2)  presides over a court with at least the
  jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003[; and
               [(3)     except as provided by Section 25.0005(d), is not
  excluded from the application of Section 25.0003 or Section
  25.0005].
         SECTION 3.  Subsection (a), Section 133.105, Local
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person convicted of any offense, other than an offense
  relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle, shall
  pay as a court cost, in addition to all other costs, a fee of $6 [$4]
  to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the
  judiciary.
         SECTION 4.  Subsection (a), Section 133.154, Local
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In addition to other fees authorized or required by law,
  the clerk of a district court, statutory county court, or county
  court shall collect a fee of $42 [$37] on the filing of any civil
  suit to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the
  judiciary.
         SECTION 5.  Subsection (f), Section 25.0292, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (f)  The Commissioners Court of Burnet County shall set the
  salary of each judge of a county court at law who engages in the
  private practice of law [or in whose court fees and costs under
  Sections 51.702(a) and (b) are not collected].
         SECTION 6.  The heading to Section 51.702, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.702.  ADDITIONAL FEES AND COSTS IN [CERTAIN]
  STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS.
         SECTION 7.  Subsection (a), Section 51.702, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The [Except as provided by Subsection (g), in addition
  to all other fees authorized or required by other law, the] clerk of
  a statutory county court shall collect a $40 filing fee in each
  civil case filed in the court to be used for court-related purposes
  for the support of the judiciary.
         SECTION 8.  Section 101.062, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 101.062.  DISTRICT COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL FILING FEE
  FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY.  The clerk of a district court shall
  collect on the filing of a civil suit an additional filing fee of
  $42 [$37] under Section 133.154, Local Government Code, to be used
  for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.
         SECTION 9.  Section 101.081, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 101.081.  STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES AND COSTS.  The
  clerk of a statutory county court shall collect fees and costs as
  follows:
               (1)  court cost in certain civil cases to establish and
  maintain an alternative dispute resolution system, if authorized by
  the county commissioners court (Sec. 152.004, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code) . . . not to exceed $10;
               (2)  appellate judicial system filing fees:
                     (A)  First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals District
  (Sec. 22.2021, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;
                     (B)  Second Court of Appeals District (Sec.
  22.2031, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;
                     (C)  Fourth Court of Appeals District (Sec.
  22.2051, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;
                     (D)  Fifth Court of Appeals District (Sec.
  22.2061, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; and
                     (E)  Thirteenth Court of Appeals District (Sec.
  22.2141, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;
               (3)  an official court reporter fee, County Court at
  Law No. 2 of Bexar County (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code) . . . $3;
               (4)  a court reporter fee when testimony is taken in a
  county court at law in McLennan County (Sec. 25.1572, Government
  Code) . . . $3;
               (5)  a stenographer fee, if a record or part of a record
  is made:
                     (A)  in a county court at law in Hidalgo County
  (Sec. 25.1102, Government Code) . . . $20; and
                     (B)  in a county court at law in Nolan County (Sec.
  25.1792, Government Code) . . . $25;
               (6)  jury fee (Sec. 51.604, Government Code) . . . $22;
               (7)  an additional filing fee:
                     (A)  for each civil case filed to be used for
  court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary[, if
  authorized by the county commissioners court] (Sec. 51.702,
  Government Code) . . . $40;
                     (B)  to fund the improvement of Dallas County
  civil court facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners
  court (Sec. 51.705, Government Code) . . . not more than $15; and
                     (C)  for filing any civil action or proceeding
  requiring a filing fee, including an appeal, and on the filing of
  any counterclaim, cross-action, intervention, interpleader, or
  third-party action requiring a filing fee, to fund civil legal
  services for the indigent (Sec. 133.153, Local Government Code)
  . . . $5;
               (8)  for filing an application for registration of
  death (Sec. 193.007, Health and Safety Code) . . . $1;
               (9)  fee for judge's services on an application for
  court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and
  Safety Code) . . . not to exceed $50;
               (10)  fee for prosecutor's services on an application
  for court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and
  Safety Code) . . . not to exceed $50;
               (11)  for filing a suit in Comal County (Sec. 152.0522,
  Human Resources Code) . . . $4;
               (12)  additional filing fee to fund contingency fund
  for liability insurance, if authorized by the county commissioners
  court (Sec. 82.003, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $5;
               (13)  civil court actions (Sec. 118.052, Local
  Government Code):
                     (A)  filing of original action (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.053, Local Government Code):
                           (i)  garnishment after judgment (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $15; and
                           (ii)  all others (Sec. 118.052, Local
  Government Code) . . . $40;
                     (B)  filing of action other than original (Secs.
  118.052 and 118.054, Local Government Code) . . . $30; and
                     (C)  services rendered after judgment in original
  action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.0545, Local Government Code):
                           (i)  abstract of judgment (Sec. 118.052,
  Local Government Code) . . . $5; and
                           (ii)  execution, order of sale, writ, or
  other process (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $5;
               (14)  probate court actions (Sec. 118.052, Local
  Government Code):
                     (A)  probate original action (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.055, Local Government Code):
                           (i)  probate of a will with independent
  executor, administration with will attached, administration of an
  estate, guardianship or receivership of an estate, or muniment of
  title (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;
                           (ii)  community survivors (Sec. 118.052,
  Local Government Code) . . . $40;
                           (iii)  small estates (Sec. 118.052, Local
  Government Code) . . . $40;
                           (iv)  declarations of heirship (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;
                           (v)  mental health or chemical dependency
  services (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40; and
                           (vi)  additional, special fee (Secs. 118.052
  and 118.064, Local Government Code) . . . $5;
                     (B)  services in pending probate action (Secs.
  118.052 and 118.056, Local Government Code):
                           (i)  filing an inventory and appraisement
  after the 120th day after the date of the initial filing of the
  action (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $25;
                           (ii)  approving and recording bond (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $3;
                           (iii)  administering oath (Sec. 118.052,
  Local Government Code) . . . $2;
                           (iv)  filing annual or final account of
  estate (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $25;
                           (v)  filing application for sale of real or
  personal property (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code). . . $25;
                           (vi)  filing annual or final report of
  guardian of a person (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . .
  $10; and
                           (vii)  filing a document not listed under
  this paragraph after the filing of an order approving the inventory
  and appraisement or after the 120th day after the date of the
  initial filing of the action, whichever occurs first (Secs. 118.052
  and 191.007, Local Government Code), if more than 25 pages . . .
  $25;
                     (C)  adverse probate action (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.057, Local Government Code) . . . $40; and
                     (D)  claim against estate (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.058, Local Government Code) . . . $2;
               (15)  other fees (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code):
                     (A)  issuing document (Secs. 118.052 and 118.059,
  Local Government Code):
                           (i)  original document and one copy (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $4; and
                           (ii)  each additional set of an original and
  one copy (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $4;
                     (B)  certified papers (Secs. 118.052 and 118.060,
  Local Government Code):
                           (i)  for the clerk's certificate (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $5; and
                           (ii)  a fee per page or part of a page (Sec.
  118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $1;
                     (C)  noncertified papers, for each page or part of
  a page (Secs. 118.052 and 118.0605, Local Government Code) . . .
  $1;
                     (D)  letters testamentary, letter of
  guardianship, letter of administration, or abstract of judgment
  (Secs. 118.052 and 118.061, Local Government Code) . . . $2;
                     (E)  safekeeping of wills (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.062, Local Government Code) . . . $5;
                     (F)  mail service of process (Secs. 118.052 and
  118.063, Local Government Code) . . . same as sheriff; and
                     (G)  records management and preservation fee
  (Secs. 118.052, 118.0546, and 118.0645, Local Government Code)
  . . . $5;
               (16)  additional filing fee to fund the courthouse
  security fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court
  (Sec. 291.008, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $5;
               (17)  additional filing fee for filing documents not
  subject to certain filing fees to fund the courthouse security
  fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec.
  291.008, Local Government Code) . . . $1;
               (18)  additional filing fee to fund the courthouse
  security fund in Webb County, if authorized by the county
  commissioners court (Sec. 291.009, Local Government Code) . . . not
  to exceed $20;
               (19)  court cost in civil cases other than suits for
  delinquent taxes to fund the county law library fund, if authorized
  by the county commissioners court (Sec. 323.023, Local Government
  Code) . . . not to exceed $35;
               (20)  fee for deposit of a will with the county clerk
  during testator's lifetime (Sec. 71, Texas Probate Code) . . . $3;
               (21)  court cost for each special commissioner in an
  eminent domain proceeding (Sec. 21.047, Property Code) . . . as
  taxed by the court, $10 or more;
               (22)  fee for county attorney in a suit regarding a
  railroad company's failure to keep roadbed and right-of-way in
  proper condition (Art. 6327, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) . . .
  $10;
               (23)  court fees and costs, if ordered by the court, for
  a suit filed by an inmate in which an affidavit or unsworn
  declaration of inability to pay costs is filed by the inmate (Sec.
  14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code) . . . the lesser of:
                     (A)  20 percent of the preceding six months'
  deposits to the inmate's trust account administered by the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice under Section 501.014, Government
  Code; or
                     (B)  the total amount of court fees and costs;
               (24)  monthly payment for remaining court fees and
  costs after the initial payment for a suit in which an affidavit or
  unsworn declaration of inability to pay costs is filed by the inmate
  (Sec. 14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code) . . . the lesser
  of:
                     (A)  10 percent of that month's deposit to the
  inmate's trust account administered by the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice under Section 501.014, Government Code; or
                     (B)  the total amount of court fees and costs that
  remain unpaid;
               (25)  the following costs not otherwise charged to the
  inmate under Section 14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, if
  the inmate has previously filed an action dismissed as malicious or
  frivolous (Sec. 14.007, Civil Practice and Remedies Code):
                     (A)  expenses of service of process;
                     (B)  postage; and
                     (C)  transportation, housing, or medical care
  incurred in connection with the appearance of the inmate in the
  court for any proceeding;
               (26)  the official court reporter's fee taxed as costs
  in civil actions in a statutory county court:
                     (A)  in Bexar County Courts at Law:
                           (i)  Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
  (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as
  the fee is taxed in district court; and
                           (ii)  No. 2 (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code)
  . . . $3;
                     (B)  in Galveston County (Sec. 25.0862,
  Government Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as the fee is taxed
  in civil cases in the district courts; and
                     (C)  in Parker County (Sec. 25.1862, Government
  Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as the fee is taxed in civil
  cases in the district courts;
               (27)  a stenographer's fee as costs in each civil,
  criminal, and probate case in which a record is made by the official
  court reporter in a statutory county court in Nolan County (Sec.
  25.1792, Government Code) . . . $25;
               (28)  in Brazoria County, in matters of concurrent
  jurisdiction with the district court, fees (Sec. 25.0222,
  Government Code) . . . as prescribed by law for district judges
  according to the nature of the matter;
               (29)  in Nueces County, in matters of concurrent
  jurisdiction with the district court, with certain exceptions, fees
  (Sec. 25.1802, Government Code) . . . equal to those in district
  court cases;
               (30)  security deposit on filing, by any person other
  than the personal representative of an estate, an application,
  complaint, or opposition in relation to the estate, if required by
  the clerk (Sec. 12, Texas Probate Code) . . . probable cost of the
  proceeding;
               (31)  security deposit on filing, by any person other
  than the guardian, attorney ad litem, or guardian ad litem, an
  application, complaint, or opposition in relation to a guardianship
  matter, if required by the clerk (Sec. 622, Texas Probate Code)
  . . . probable cost of the guardianship proceeding;
               (32)  for a hearing or proceeding under the Texas
  Mental Health Code (Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code) as
  costs (Secs. 571.017 and 571.018, Health and Safety Code) . . .
  reasonable compensation to the following persons appointed under
  the Texas Mental Health Code:
                     (A)  attorneys;
                     (B)  physicians;
                     (C)  language interpreters;
                     (D)  sign interpreters; and
                     (E)  masters;
               (33)  for a hearing or proceeding under the Texas
  Mental Health Code (Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code) as
  costs (Sec. 571.018, Health and Safety Code):
                     (A)  attorney's fees;
                     (B)  physician examination fees;
                     (C)  expense of transportation to a mental health
  facility or to a federal agency not to exceed $50 if transporting
  within the same county and not to exceed the reasonable cost of
  transportation if transporting between counties;
                     (D)  costs and salary supplements authorized
  under Section 574.031, Health and Safety Code; and
                     (E)  prosecutors' fees authorized under Section
  574.031, Health and Safety Code;
               (34)  expenses of transporting certain patients from
  the county of treatment to a hearing in the county in which the
  proceedings originated (Sec. 574.008, Health and Safety Code) . . .
  actual expenses unless certain arrangements are made to hold the
  hearing in the county in which the patient is receiving services;
               (35)  expenses for expert witness testimony for an
  indigent patient (Sec. 574.010, Health and Safety Code) . . . if
  authorized by the court as reimbursement to the attorney ad litem,
  court-approved expenses;
               (36)  fee for judge's services for holding a hearing on
  an application for court-ordered mental health services (Sec.
  574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . as assessed by the judge, not
  to exceed $50;
               (37)  expenses to reimburse judge for holding a hearing
  in a hospital or location other than the county courthouse (Sec.
  574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . reasonable and necessary
  expenses as certified;
               (38)  fee for services of a prosecuting attorney,
  including costs incurred for preparation of documents related to a
  hearing on an application for court-ordered mental health services
  (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . as assessed by the
  judge, not to exceed $50; and
               (39)  a fee not otherwise listed in this section that is
  required to be collected under Section 25.0008, Government Code
  (Sec. 25.0008, Government Code), in a county other than Brazos,
  Cameron, Ellis, Guadalupe, Harris, Henderson, Liberty, Moore,
  Nolan, Panola, Parker, Starr, Victoria, and Williamson . . . as
  prescribed by law relating to county judges' fees.
         SECTION 10.  Section 101.083, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 101.083.  STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL
  FILING FEE FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY.  The clerk of a statutory
  county court shall collect on the filing of a civil suit an
  additional filing fee of $42 [$37] under Section 133.154, Local
  Government Code, to be used for court-related purposes for the
  support of the judiciary.
         SECTION 11.  Section 101.123, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 101.123.  COUNTY COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR
  SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY.  The clerk of a county court shall collect on
  the filing of a civil suit an additional filing fee of $42 [$37]
  under Section 133.154, Local Government Code, to be used for
  court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.
         SECTION 12.  Section 102.022, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 102.022.  COURT COST ON CONVICTION FOR SUPPORT OF
  JUDICIARY.  A person convicted of any offense, other than an offense
  relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle, shall
  pay a cost on conviction of $6 [$4] under Section 133.105, Local
  Government Code.
         SECTION 13.  The following provisions of the Government Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Subsections (e), (f), and (g), Section 25.0005;
               (2)  Subsections (b) and (c), Section 25.0015;
               (3)  Section 25.0016;
               (4)  Subsection (e), Section 25.0362; and
               (5)  Subsections (f) through (m), Section 51.702.
         SECTION 14.  The imposition of a cost of court under Section
  133.105, Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies
  only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
  this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
  this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that
  date.
         SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect October 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 600 passed the Senate on
  March 28, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 600 passed the House on
  May 15, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 2, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor