78R7453 QS-F

By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 1458



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to filing fees to pay for juror reimbursements in Harris 
County.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 61, Government Code, is 
amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 61.  JUROR REIMBURSEMENT [GENERAL PROVISIONS]
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 61, Government Code, is amended by 
adding a heading for a new Subchapter A of that chapter to read as 
follows:

SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
	SECTION 3.  Existing Sections 61.001, 61.002, and 61.003, 
Government Code, are designated as part of the new Subchapter A of 
Chapter 61, Government Code.
	SECTION 4.  Chapter 61, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter B to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B.  PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC COUNTIES
	Sec. 61.051.  HARRIS COUNTY JUROR REIMBURSEMENT FEES. (a)  
The clerk of each district court, county court, and county court at 
law in Harris County shall collect a fee of $10 as a cost of court 
for each petition, cross-claim, counterclaim, intervention, 
interpleader, or contempt action filed in a civil case.  The clerk 
of each justice court in Harris County shall collect a fee of $3 as a 
cost of court for each petition, cross-claim, counterclaim, 
intervention, interpleader, or contempt action filed in a civil 
case.  A fee required under this subsection shall be collected at 
the time of filing.  The fee shall be assessed separately for each 
defendant named in a cross-claim or counterclaim.
	(b)  A clerk required to collect a fee under Subsection (a) 
shall collect the fee in the manner provided for other court costs 
and shall deliver the fee to the treasurer, or the person who 
performs the duties of the treasurer, of Harris County.  The county 
treasurer, or the person who performs the duties of the county 
treasurer, shall deposit the fees received in the juror 
reimbursement account in the general fund of the county established 
by the county treasurer. Money in the account may be used only to:
		(1)  provide reimbursement under Section 61.001 for 
expenses incurred by jurors and persons who attend court in 
response to jury summonses in a district court, county court, 
county court at law, or justice court in Harris County; or
		(2)  pay for construction or bond retirement costs of a 
building dedicated to juror parking.
	SECTION 5.  Section 61.051, Government Code, as added by 
this Act, applies only to filing fees in civil cases filed on or 
after the effective date of this Act.  Filing fees in a civil case 
filed before the effective date of this Act are governed by the law 
in effect on the date the case was filed, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.