SRC-AXB S.C.R. 21 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.C.R. 21
76R2081  RVH-DBy: Ellis
Jurisprudence
3/11/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, increased clerical costs resulting from the greater
record-keeping burden imposed on a court by a multiple-party lawsuit are
borne by the court at taxpayer expense.  On average, filing fees cover
under half of the costs associated with court proceedings.  Concern exists
that court costs are unreasonably burdensome, that one filing fee for
multiple plaintiffs or a class action suit places an undue burden on
record-keeping activities, and that an increase in filing fees would
restrict access to the courts.  S.C.R. 21 directs the Office of Court
Administration to report on the costs and feasibility of reassessing the
filing fee rate. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.C.R. 21 submits the following resolutions:

That the Office of Court Administration is directed to report on the costs
of filing multipleparty lawsuits, using sliding scales or aggregate filing
fees, and to submit recommendations to the legislature by March 1, 1999. 

That the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to
the director of the Office of Court Administration.