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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an additional filing fee for civil cases filed in |
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certain courts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.708 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.708. ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN |
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CERTAIN COURTS. (a) In addition to all other fees authorized or |
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required by other law, the clerk of a county court, statutory county |
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court, or district court shall collect a filing fee of not more than |
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$10 in each civil case filed in the court to be used for court record |
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preservation for the courts in the county. |
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(b) Court fees due under this section shall be collected in |
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the same manner as other fees, fines, or costs are collected in the |
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case. |
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(c) The clerk at least monthly shall send the fees collected |
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under this section to the county treasurer or to any other official |
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who discharges the duties commonly assigned to the county |
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treasurer. The treasurer or other official shall deposit the fees |
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in a court record preservation account in the county treasury. The |
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money in the account may be used only to digitize court records and |
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preserve the records from natural disasters. |
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(d) The court record preservation account shall be |
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administered by or under the direction of the commissioners court |
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of the county. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 101.06117 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 101.06117. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT FEES: GOVERNMENT |
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CODE. The clerk of a district court shall collect an additional |
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filing fee not to exceed $10 under Section 51.708, Government Code, |
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in certain civil cases to fund the preservation of court records. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 101, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 101.08115 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 101.08115. ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES: |
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GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory county court shall |
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collect an additional filing fee not to exceed $10 under Section |
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51.708, Government Code, in certain civil cases to fund the |
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preservation of court records. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 101, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 101.12124 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 101.12124. ADDITIONAL COUNTY COURT FEES: GOVERNMENT |
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CODE. The clerk of a county court shall collect an additional |
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filing fee not to exceed $10 under Section 51.708, Government Code, |
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in certain civil cases to fund the preservation of court records. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |