By: Duncan S.B. No. 600

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to compensation paid to statutory county court judges and certain court-related fees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 25.0005, Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A statutory county court judge, other than a statutory county court judge who engages in the private practice of law [or a judge in whose court fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b) are not collected], shall be paid a total annual salary set by the commissioners court at an amount that is not less than [at least equal to the amount that is] $1,000 less than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county [on August 31, 1999]. A district judge's or statutory county court judge's total annual salary includes contributions and supplements, paid by the state or a county, other than contributions received as compensation under Section 74.051.

(b) Subject to any salary requirements otherwise imposed by this chapter for a particular court or county, the commissioners court sets the salary of each statutory county court judge who engages in the private practice of law [or in whose court fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b) are not collected].

SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 25.0015, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Beginning on the first day of the state fiscal year, the state shall annually compensate each county [that collects the additional fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b)] in an amount equal to 60 percent of the state salary of a district court judge in the county [$35,000] for each statutory county court judge in the county who:

(1) does not engage in the private practice of law; and

(2) presides over a court with at least the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003[; and

[(3) except as provided by Section 25.0005(d), is not excluded from the application of Section 25.0003 or Section 25.0005].

SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 133.105, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person convicted of any offense, other than an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle, shall pay as a court cost, in addition to all other costs, a fee of $6 [$4] to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 4. Subsection (a), Section 133.154, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In addition to other fees authorized or required by law, the clerk of a district court, statutory county court, or county court shall collect a fee of $42 [$37] on the filing of any civil suit to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 5. Subsection (f), Section 25.0292, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(f) The Commissioners Court of Burnet County shall set the salary of each judge of a county court at law who engages in the private practice of law [or in whose court fees and costs under Sections 51.702(a) and (b) are not collected].

SECTION 6. The heading to Section 51.702, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 51.702. ADDITIONAL FEES AND COSTS IN [CERTAIN] STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS.

SECTION 7. Subsection (a), Section 51.702, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The [Except as provided by Subsection (g), in addition to all other fees authorized or required by other law, the] clerk of a statutory county court shall collect a $40 filing fee in each civil case filed in the court to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 8. Section 101.062, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 101.062. DISTRICT COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY. The clerk of a district court shall collect on the filing of a civil suit an additional filing fee of $42 [$37] under Section 133.154, Local Government Code, to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 9. Section 101.081, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 101.081. STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES AND COSTS. The clerk of a statutory county court shall collect fees and costs as follows:

(1) court cost in certain civil cases to establish and maintain an alternative dispute resolution system, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 152.004, Civil Practice and Remedies Code) . . . not to exceed $10;

(2) appellate judicial system filing fees:

(A) First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals District (Sec. 22.2021, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;

(B) Second Court of Appeals District (Sec. 22.2031, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;

(C) Fourth Court of Appeals District (Sec. 22.2051, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;

(D) Fifth Court of Appeals District (Sec. 22.2061, Government Code) . . . not more than $5; and

(E) Thirteenth Court of Appeals District (Sec. 22.2141, Government Code) . . . not more than $5;

(3) an official court reporter fee, County Court at Law No. 2 of Bexar County (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code) . . . $3;

(4) a court reporter fee when testimony is taken in a county court at law in McLennan County (Sec. 25.1572, Government Code) . . . $3;

(5) a stenographer fee, if a record or part of a record is made:

(A) in a county court at law in Hidalgo County (Sec. 25.1102, Government Code) . . . $20; and

(B) in a county court at law in Nolan County (Sec. 25.1792, Government Code) . . . $25;

(6) jury fee (Sec. 51.604, Government Code) . . . $22;

(7) an additional filing fee:

(A) for each civil case filed to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary[, if authorized by the county commissioners court] (Sec. 51.702, Government Code) . . . $40;

(B) to fund the improvement of Dallas County civil court facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 51.705, Government Code) . . . not more than $15; and

(C) for filing any civil action or proceeding requiring a filing fee, including an appeal, and on the filing of any counterclaim, cross-action, intervention, interpleader, or third-party action requiring a filing fee, to fund civil legal services for the indigent (Sec. 133.153, Local Government Code) . . . $5;

(8) for filing an application for registration of death (Sec. 193.007, Health and Safety Code) . . . $1;

(9) fee for judge's services on an application for court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . not to exceed $50;

(10) fee for prosecutor's services on an application for court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . not to exceed $50;

(11) for filing a suit in Comal County (Sec. 152.0522, Human Resources Code) . . . $4;

(12) additional filing fee to fund contingency fund for liability insurance, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 82.003, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $5;

(13) civil court actions (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code):

(A) filing of original action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.053, Local Government Code):

(i) garnishment after judgment (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $15; and

(ii) all others (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;

(B) filing of action other than original (Secs. 118.052 and 118.054, Local Government Code) . . . $30; and

(C) services rendered after judgment in original action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.0545, Local Government Code):

(i) abstract of judgment (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $5; and

(ii) execution, order of sale, writ, or other process (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $5;

(14) probate court actions (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code):

(A) probate original action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.055, Local Government Code):

(i) probate of a will with independent executor, administration with will attached, administration of an estate, guardianship or receivership of an estate, or muniment of title (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;

(ii) community survivors (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;

(iii) small estates (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;

(iv) declarations of heirship (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40;

(v) mental health or chemical dependency services (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $40; and

(vi) additional, special fee (Secs. 118.052 and 118.064, Local Government Code) . . . $5;

(B) services in pending probate action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.056, Local Government Code):

(i) filing an inventory and appraisement after the 120th day after the date of the initial filing of the action (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $25;

(ii) approving and recording bond (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $3;

(iii) administering oath (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $2;

(iv) filing annual or final account of estate (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $25;

(v) filing application for sale of real or personal property (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code). . . $25;

(vi) filing annual or final report of guardian of a person (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $10; and

(vii) filing a document not listed under this paragraph after the filing of an order approving the inventory and appraisement or after the 120th day after the date of the initial filing of the action, whichever occurs first (Secs. 118.052 and 191.007, Local Government Code), if more than 25 pages . . . $25;

(C) adverse probate action (Secs. 118.052 and 118.057, Local Government Code) . . . $40; and

(D) claim against estate (Secs. 118.052 and 118.058, Local Government Code) . . . $2;

(15) other fees (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code):

(A) issuing document (Secs. 118.052 and 118.059, Local Government Code):

(i) original document and one copy (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $4; and

(ii) each additional set of an original and one copy (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $4;

(B) certified papers (Secs. 118.052 and 118.060, Local Government Code):

(i) for the clerk's certificate (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $5; and

(ii) a fee per page or part of a page (Sec. 118.052, Local Government Code) . . . $1;

(C) noncertified papers, for each page or part of a page (Secs. 118.052 and 118.0605, Local Government Code) . . . $1;

(D) letters testamentary, letter of guardianship, letter of administration, or abstract of judgment (Secs. 118.052 and 118.061, Local Government Code) . . . $2;

(E) safekeeping of wills (Secs. 118.052 and 118.062, Local Government Code) . . . $5;

(F) mail service of process (Secs. 118.052 and 118.063, Local Government Code) . . . same as sheriff; and

(G) records management and preservation fee (Secs. 118.052, 118.0546, and 118.0645, Local Government Code) . . . $5;

(16) additional filing fee to fund the courthouse security fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 291.008, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $5;

(17) additional filing fee for filing documents not subject to certain filing fees to fund the courthouse security fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 291.008, Local Government Code) . . . $1;

(18) additional filing fee to fund the courthouse security fund in Webb County, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 291.009, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $20;

(19) court cost in civil cases other than suits for delinquent taxes to fund the county law library fund, if authorized by the county commissioners court (Sec. 323.023, Local Government Code) . . . not to exceed $35;

(20) fee for deposit of a will with the county clerk during testator's lifetime (Sec. 71, Texas Probate Code) . . . $3;

(21) court cost for each special commissioner in an eminent domain proceeding (Sec. 21.047, Property Code) . . . as taxed by the court, $10 or more;

(22) fee for county attorney in a suit regarding a railroad company's failure to keep roadbed and right-of-way in proper condition (Art. 6327, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) . . . $10;

(23) court fees and costs, if ordered by the court, for a suit filed by an inmate in which an affidavit or unsworn declaration of inability to pay costs is filed by the inmate (Sec. 14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code) . . . the lesser of:

(A) 20 percent of the preceding six months' deposits to the inmate's trust account administered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 501.014, Government Code; or

(B) the total amount of court fees and costs;

(24) monthly payment for remaining court fees and costs after the initial payment for a suit in which an affidavit or unsworn declaration of inability to pay costs is filed by the inmate (Sec. 14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code) . . . the lesser of:

(A) 10 percent of that month's deposit to the inmate's trust account administered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 501.014, Government Code; or

(B) the total amount of court fees and costs that remain unpaid;

(25) the following costs not otherwise charged to the inmate under Section 14.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, if the inmate has previously filed an action dismissed as malicious or frivolous (Sec. 14.007, Civil Practice and Remedies Code):

(A) expenses of service of process;

(B) postage; and

(C) transportation, housing, or medical care incurred in connection with the appearance of the inmate in the court for any proceeding;

(26) the official court reporter's fee taxed as costs in civil actions in a statutory county court:

(A) in Bexar County Courts at Law:

(i) Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as the fee is taxed in district court; and

(ii) No. 2 (Sec. 25.0172, Government Code) . . . $3;

(B) in Galveston County (Sec. 25.0862, Government Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as the fee is taxed in civil cases in the district courts; and

(C) in Parker County (Sec. 25.1862, Government Code) . . . taxed in the same manner as the fee is taxed in civil cases in the district courts;

(27) a stenographer's fee as costs in each civil, criminal, and probate case in which a record is made by the official court reporter in a statutory county court in Nolan County (Sec. 25.1792, Government Code) . . . $25;

(28) in Brazoria County, in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, fees (Sec. 25.0222, Government Code) . . . as prescribed by law for district judges according to the nature of the matter;

(29) in Nueces County, in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, with certain exceptions, fees (Sec. 25.1802, Government Code) . . . equal to those in district court cases;

(30) security deposit on filing, by any person other than the personal representative of an estate, an application, complaint, or opposition in relation to the estate, if required by the clerk (Sec. 12, Texas Probate Code) . . . probable cost of the proceeding;

(31) security deposit on filing, by any person other than the guardian, attorney ad litem, or guardian ad litem, an application, complaint, or opposition in relation to a guardianship matter, if required by the clerk (Sec. 622, Texas Probate Code) . . . probable cost of the guardianship proceeding;

(32) for a hearing or proceeding under the Texas Mental Health Code (Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code) as costs (Secs. 571.017 and 571.018, Health and Safety Code) . . . reasonable compensation to the following persons appointed under the Texas Mental Health Code:

(A) attorneys;

(B) physicians;

(C) language interpreters;

(D) sign interpreters; and

(E) masters;

(33) for a hearing or proceeding under the Texas Mental Health Code (Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code) as costs (Sec. 571.018, Health and Safety Code):

(A) attorney's fees;

(B) physician examination fees;

(C) expense of transportation to a mental health facility or to a federal agency not to exceed $50 if transporting within the same county and not to exceed the reasonable cost of transportation if transporting between counties;

(D) costs and salary supplements authorized under Section 574.031, Health and Safety Code; and

(E) prosecutors' fees authorized under Section 574.031, Health and Safety Code;

(34) expenses of transporting certain patients from the county of treatment to a hearing in the county in which the proceedings originated (Sec. 574.008, Health and Safety Code) . . . actual expenses unless certain arrangements are made to hold the hearing in the county in which the patient is receiving services;

(35) expenses for expert witness testimony for an indigent patient (Sec. 574.010, Health and Safety Code) . . . if authorized by the court as reimbursement to the attorney ad litem, court-approved expenses;

(36) fee for judge's services for holding a hearing on an application for court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . as assessed by the judge, not to exceed $50;

(37) expenses to reimburse judge for holding a hearing in a hospital or location other than the county courthouse (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . reasonable and necessary expenses as certified;

(38) fee for services of a prosecuting attorney, including costs incurred for preparation of documents related to a hearing on an application for court-ordered mental health services (Sec. 574.031, Health and Safety Code) . . . as assessed by the judge, not to exceed $50; and

(39) a fee not otherwise listed in this section that is required to be collected under Section 25.0008, Government Code (Sec. 25.0008, Government Code), in a county other than Brazos, Cameron, Ellis, Guadalupe, Harris, Henderson, Liberty, Moore, Nolan, Panola, Parker, Starr, Victoria, and Williamson . . . as prescribed by law relating to county judges' fees.

SECTION 10. Section 101.083, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 101.083. STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY. The clerk of a statutory county court shall collect on the filing of a civil suit an additional filing fee of $42 [$37] under Section 133.154, Local Government Code, to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 11. Section 101.123, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 101.123. COUNTY COURT FEES: ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY. The clerk of a county court shall collect on the filing of a civil suit an additional filing fee of $42 [$37] under Section 133.154, Local Government Code, to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary.

SECTION 12. Section 102.022, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 102.022. COURT COST ON CONVICTION FOR SUPPORT OF JUDICIARY. A person convicted of any offense, other than an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle, shall pay a cost on conviction of $6 [$4] under Section 133.105, Local Government Code.

SECTION 13. The following provisions of the Government Code are repealed:

(1) Subsections (e), (f), and (g), Section 25.0005;

(2) Subsections (b) and (c), Section 25.0015;

(3) Section 25.0016;

(4) Subsection (e), Section 25.0362; and

(5) Subsections (f) through (m), Section 51.702.

SECTION 14. The imposition of a cost of court under Section 133.105, Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date.

SECTION 15. This Act takes effect October 1, 2007.