SRC-JBJ, S.C.R. 12 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.C.R. 12 76R7016 RVH-DBy: Ellis Jurisprudence 2/23/1999 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST Currently, local court clerks identify, collect, and remit a great variety of fees, at a rate of 61 percent for county-level courts and 26 percent for district courts. The rate of collection results in a combined loss of nearly $1,000,000, according to a 1996 survey by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. While most counties attempt to increase their collection rate with a variety of collection methods, the number of fees and the complex fee structure causes smaller jurisdictions and cities with limited resources to struggle with raising the collection rate. Simplification of the fee collection process would enable smaller jurisdictions to employ less of their limited resources in processing fees, and training measures would increase a court's efficiency in collections. S.C.R. 12 would direct the comptroller of public accounts to develop strategies for increasing efficiency and reducing the complexity of fee collection for county and municipal clerks, and to report the strategies to the legislature. PURPOSE As proposed, S.C.R. 12 submits the following resolutions: Directs the comptroller of public accounts to develop strategies for increasing efficiency and reducing the complexity of fee collection and dispersal by county and municipal clerks, and to submit those recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2001. Requires the secretary of state to forward an official copy of this resolution to the comptroller of public accounts. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES PURPOSE. Amends the due date for the comptroller to submit recommendations to the legislature as January 1, 2001, rather than March 1, 1999.