Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1964 by Hinojosa (Relating to the imposition of additional fees for filing civil cases and for recording certain documents in Hidalgo County.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require a clerk of certain courts to collect a filing fee of up to $20 in certain cases to be used towards the construction and renovation of court facilities. The bill would require a clerk to send the fees to the county treasurer. The bill would require a county clerk to collect a fee of $10 for the filing for real property records to be used to fund the construction and renovation of court facilities. All fees established by the bill would be required to be approved or passed by resolution by the commissioners court of the county. The bill establishes a process of the expiration of the fees. The bill applies only to Hidalgo County.
The Office of Court Administration reported no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
The Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted Hidalgo County to determine the fiscal impact. Hidalgo County's fiscal year (FY) begins January 1. Hidalgo County reported that the county would collect an estimated $1.9 million per year in new revenue for FY 2016- FY 2020, assuming that all filings remain at the current levels. FY 2015 would be prorated for four months, totaling $600,000 in additional revenue resulting from the new fines.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts