S.B. No. 1891
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the imposition of an additional fee for filing civil
  cases in certain Travis County courts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.709 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.709.  ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN
  TRAVIS COUNTY. (a)  This section applies only to district courts,
  probate courts, and county courts at law in Travis County.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section and in
  addition to all other fees authorized or required by other law, the
  clerk of a court shall collect a filing fee of not more than $15 in
  each civil case filed in the court to be used for the construction,
  renovation, or improvement of the facilities that house the Travis
  County civil courts.
         (c)  Court fees due under this section shall be collected in
  the same manner as other fees, fines, or costs are collected in the
  case.
         (d)  The clerk shall send the fees collected under this
  section to the county treasurer or to any other official who
  discharges the duties commonly assigned to the county treasurer at
  least as frequently as monthly. The treasurer or other official
  shall deposit the fees in a special account in the county treasury
  dedicated to the construction, renovation, or improvement of the
  facilities that house the courts collecting the fee.
         (e)  This section applies only to fees for a 12-month period
  beginning October 1, if the commissioners court:
               (1)  adopts a resolution authorizing a fee of not more
  than $15;
               (2)  adopts a resolution requiring the county to spend
  one dollar for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the
  court facilities for each dollar spent from the special account
  dedicated to that purpose; and
               (3)  files the resolutions with the county treasurer or
  with any other official who discharges the duties commonly assigned
  to the county treasurer not later than September 1 immediately
  preceding the first 12-month period during which the fees are to be
  collected.
         (f)  A resolution adopted under Subsection (e) continues
  from year to year until October 1, 2028, allowing the county to
  collect fees under the terms of this section until the resolution is
  rescinded.
         (g)  The commissioners court may rescind a resolution
  adopted under Subsection (e) by adopting a resolution rescinding
  the resolution and submitting the rescission resolution to the
  county treasurer or to any other official who discharges the duties
  commonly assigned to the county treasurer not later than June 1
  preceding the beginning of the first day of the county fiscal year.  
  The commissioners court may adopt an additional resolution in the
  manner provided by Subsection (e) after rescinding a previous
  resolution under that subsection.
         (h)  A fee established under a particular resolution is
  abolished on the earlier of:
               (1)  the date a resolution adopted under Subsection (e)
  is rescinded as provided by Subsection (g); or
               (2)  October 1, 2028.
         (i)  The county may make the required expenditure described
  by Subsection (e)(2) at any time, regardless of when the
  expenditure from the special account occurs.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.06120 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.06120.  ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT FEES FOR COURT
  FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a district court in
  Travis County shall collect an additional filing fee of not more
  than $15 under Section 51.709, Government Code, in civil cases to
  fund the construction, renovation, or improvement of court
  facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.08119 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.08119.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES FOR
  COURT FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory county
  court in Travis County shall collect an additional filing fee of not
  more than $15 under Section 51.709, Government Code, in civil cases
  to fund the construction, renovation, or improvement of court
  facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter F, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.10118 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.10118.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY PROBATE COURT FEES FOR
  COURT FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory
  probate court in Travis County shall collect an additional filing
  fee of not more than $15 under Section 51.709, Government Code, in
  civil cases to fund the construction, renovation, or improvement of
  court facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1891 passed the Senate on
  May 8, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1891 passed the House on
  May 22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 12, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor