Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2030 by Wentworth (Relating to an additional filing fee for civil cases filed in Hays County.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapters 51 and 101 of the Government Code to allow the Hays County Commissioners Court to adopt an additional filing fee for civil cases filed in district courts, county courts at law, probate courts and justice courts of not more than $15. The funds collected from this new fee would be available for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the facilities that house the Hays County civil courts. The bill would require that the funds collected be deposited into a special account for that purpose. The bill would also require the county to match each dollar spent from the special account and to spend that matched amount on the stated purpose of the special account.
The bill would allow the fee to be collected through July 1, 2022, unless it is rescinded by resolution of the commissioners court prior to July 1, 2022.
The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2007.
Local Government Impact
According to the Office of Court Administration's Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary, Fiscal Year 2006, there were 4,046 new cases filed in fiscal 2006 in Hays County district courts, county courts at law, probate courts and justice courts. If the maximum amount of the fee were assessed on the 4,046 new cases filed in fiscal 2006, $60,690 would be generated.
Since the amount of any fee that would be adopted is unknown, the fiscal impact on Hays County cannot be determined.