Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3214 by Spitzer (Relating to the imposition of an additional fee for filing civil cases in certain Kaufman County courts.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to permit the commissioners court of Kaufman County to pass a resolution authorizing a new civil filing fee of up to $15 to be deposited into a special county account for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the facilities housing the district courts, county courts at law, and justice courts. Under the provisions of the bill, a statutory probate court would be authorized to collect a fee of up to $15. The bill provides an expiration of the fee.
The Office of Court Administration reported no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
The Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted Kaufman County to determine the fiscal impact. Kaufman County's fiscal year (FY) begins October 1. Kaufman County reported that the county would collect an estimated $20,610 per year in revenue for FY 2016- FY 2020, assuming that all filings remain at the current levels. FY 2015 would be prorated for one month, totaling $1,718 in additional revenue resulting from the new fines.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts