By: McClendon (Senate Sponsor - Wentworth) H.B. No. 144
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2009;
  May 4, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Jurisprudence; May 14, 2009, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 14, 2009, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an additional filing fee for civil cases filed in Bexar
  County.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.706 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.706.  ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN BEXAR
  COUNTY. (a)  This section applies only to district courts,
  statutory probate courts, and county courts at law in Bexar County.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section and in
  addition to all other fees authorized or required by other law, the
  clerk of a court shall collect a filing fee of not more than $15 in
  each civil case filed in the court to be used for the construction,
  renovation, or improvement of the facilities that house the Bexar
  County civil and criminal courts. The fee does not apply to a suit
  affecting the parent-child relationship for the adoption of a child
  or the termination of parental rights.
         (c)  Court fees due under this section shall be collected in
  the same manner as other fees, fines, or costs are collected in the
  case.
         (d)  The clerk at least monthly shall send the fees collected
  under this section to the county treasurer or to any other official
  who discharges the duties commonly assigned to the county
  treasurer. The treasurer or other official shall deposit the fees
  in a special account in the county treasury dedicated to the
  construction, renovation, or improvement of the facilities that
  house the Bexar County civil and criminal courts.
         (e)  This section applies only to the collection of fees for
  a 12-month period beginning October 1, if the commissioners court:
               (1)  adopts a resolution authorizing a fee of not more
  than $15;
               (2)  adopts a resolution requiring the county to spend
  one dollar for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the
  court facilities for each dollar spent from the special account
  dedicated to that purpose; and
               (3)  files the resolutions with the county treasurer or
  with any other official who discharges the duties commonly assigned
  to the county treasurer not later than September 1 immediately
  preceding the first 12-month period during which the fees are to be
  collected.
         (f)  A resolution adopted under Subsection (e) continues
  from year to year until October 1, 2024, allowing the county to
  collect fees in accordance with this section until the resolution
  is rescinded.
         (g)  The commissioners court may rescind a resolution
  adopted under Subsection (e) by adopting a resolution rescinding
  the resolution and submitting the rescission resolution to the
  county treasurer or to any other official who discharges the duties
  commonly assigned to the county treasurer not later than September
  1 preceding the beginning of the first day of the county fiscal
  year. The commissioners court may adopt another resolution in the
  manner provided by Subsection (e) after rescinding a previous
  resolution adopted under that subsection.
         (h)  A fee established under a particular resolution is
  abolished on the earlier of:
               (1)  the date a resolution adopted under Subsection (e)
  is rescinded as provided by Subsection (g); or
               (2)  October 1, 2024.
         (i)  The county may make the expenditure required under
  Subsection (e)(2) at any time, regardless of when the expenditure
  from the special account occurs.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.06111 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.06111.  ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT FEES: GOVERNMENT
  CODE. The clerk of a district court in Bexar County shall collect
  an additional filing fee not to exceed $15 under Section 51.706,
  Government Code, in certain civil cases to fund the improvement of
  court facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.08111 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.08111.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES:
  GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory county court in Bexar
  County shall collect an additional filing fee not to exceed $15
  under Section 51.706, Government Code, in certain civil cases to
  fund the improvement of court facilities, if authorized by the
  county commissioners court.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter F, Chapter 101, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 101.10111 to read as follows:
         Sec. 101.10111.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY PROBATE COURT FEES:
  GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory probate court in Bexar
  County shall collect an additional filing fee not to exceed $15
  under Section 51.706, Government Code, in certain civil cases to
  fund the improvement of court facilities, if authorized by the
  county commissioners court.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
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