Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1524Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Dixon (Vice Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Sanchez, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025 An act to amend Sections 70630 68150, 70630, and 70631 of the Government Code, relating to courts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1524, as amended, Committee on Judiciary. Courts: fees.Existing law, the Uniform Civil Fees and Standard Fee Schedule Act of 2005, establishes a set fee schedule for courts to implement for, among other things, filings, service, and changes of venue.Existing law authorizes courts that have made videoconferencing services available to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of permitting the parties to appear by videoconference and requires that fee to be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.This bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee to appear by videoconference that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court, as defined, of providing the service.Existing law authorizes the court to charge a reasonable fee that does not exceed the costs of providing the service or product, if the Judicial Council approves the fee, as specified.The bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. The bill would require any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2027, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each fee charged by a superior court prior to December 31, 2026, that was not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each new fee charged by a superior court in the preceding calendar year.Existing law authorizes trial court records to be created, maintained, and preserved in any form of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology. Existing law requires those court records be made reasonably accessible to the public for viewing and duplication, with a reasonable provision controlling for the costs of duplication, as specified.This bill would require court records maintained in electronic form to be viewable at the court and be available for duplication at a cost, as specified. The bill would give a member of the public the right to request to view or duplicate accessible records, on the premises of the court and with the requesters equipment in a manner that does not make physical contact with the record, without being charged any fees or costs to reproduce the record, unless reproduction would result in damage to the record or unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or networks, as specified. The bill would authorize the court to impose reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or prevent the copying of the records from being an unreasonable burden, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 68150 of the Government Code is amended to read:68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 70630 of the Government Code is amended to read:70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 70631 of the Government Code is amended to read:70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1524Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Dixon (Vice Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Sanchez, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025 An act to amend Sections 70630 68150, 70630, and 70631 of the Government Code, relating to courts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1524, as amended, Committee on Judiciary. Courts: fees.Existing law, the Uniform Civil Fees and Standard Fee Schedule Act of 2005, establishes a set fee schedule for courts to implement for, among other things, filings, service, and changes of venue.Existing law authorizes courts that have made videoconferencing services available to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of permitting the parties to appear by videoconference and requires that fee to be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.This bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee to appear by videoconference that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court, as defined, of providing the service.Existing law authorizes the court to charge a reasonable fee that does not exceed the costs of providing the service or product, if the Judicial Council approves the fee, as specified.The bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. The bill would require any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2027, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each fee charged by a superior court prior to December 31, 2026, that was not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each new fee charged by a superior court in the preceding calendar year.Existing law authorizes trial court records to be created, maintained, and preserved in any form of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology. Existing law requires those court records be made reasonably accessible to the public for viewing and duplication, with a reasonable provision controlling for the costs of duplication, as specified.This bill would require court records maintained in electronic form to be viewable at the court and be available for duplication at a cost, as specified. The bill would give a member of the public the right to request to view or duplicate accessible records, on the premises of the court and with the requesters equipment in a manner that does not make physical contact with the record, without being charged any fees or costs to reproduce the record, unless reproduction would result in damage to the record or unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or networks, as specified. The bill would authorize the court to impose reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or prevent the copying of the records from being an unreasonable burden, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1524
Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Dixon (Vice Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Sanchez, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025
Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Dixon (Vice Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Sanchez, Stefani, and Zbur)
March 18, 2025
An act to amend Sections 70630 68150, 70630, and 70631 of the Government Code, relating to courts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1524, as amended, Committee on Judiciary. Courts: fees.
Existing law, the Uniform Civil Fees and Standard Fee Schedule Act of 2005, establishes a set fee schedule for courts to implement for, among other things, filings, service, and changes of venue.Existing law authorizes courts that have made videoconferencing services available to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of permitting the parties to appear by videoconference and requires that fee to be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.This bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee to appear by videoconference that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court, as defined, of providing the service.Existing law authorizes the court to charge a reasonable fee that does not exceed the costs of providing the service or product, if the Judicial Council approves the fee, as specified.The bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. The bill would require any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2027, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each fee charged by a superior court prior to December 31, 2026, that was not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each new fee charged by a superior court in the preceding calendar year.Existing law authorizes trial court records to be created, maintained, and preserved in any form of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology. Existing law requires those court records be made reasonably accessible to the public for viewing and duplication, with a reasonable provision controlling for the costs of duplication, as specified.This bill would require court records maintained in electronic form to be viewable at the court and be available for duplication at a cost, as specified. The bill would give a member of the public the right to request to view or duplicate accessible records, on the premises of the court and with the requesters equipment in a manner that does not make physical contact with the record, without being charged any fees or costs to reproduce the record, unless reproduction would result in damage to the record or unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or networks, as specified. The bill would authorize the court to impose reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or prevent the copying of the records from being an unreasonable burden, as specified.
Existing law, the Uniform Civil Fees and Standard Fee Schedule Act of 2005, establishes a set fee schedule for courts to implement for, among other things, filings, service, and changes of venue.
Existing law authorizes courts that have made videoconferencing services available to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of permitting the parties to appear by videoconference and requires that fee to be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.
This bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee to appear by videoconference that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court, as defined, of providing the service.
Existing law authorizes the court to charge a reasonable fee that does not exceed the costs of providing the service or product, if the Judicial Council approves the fee, as specified.
The bill would instead prohibit the court from charging a fee that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. The bill would require any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2027, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each fee charged by a superior court prior to December 31, 2026, that was not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule. The bill would also require the Judicial Council, by March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, to report to the Legislature, as specified, regarding each new fee charged by a superior court in the preceding calendar year.
Existing law authorizes trial court records to be created, maintained, and preserved in any form of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology. Existing law requires those court records be made reasonably accessible to the public for viewing and duplication, with a reasonable provision controlling for the costs of duplication, as specified.
This bill would require court records maintained in electronic form to be viewable at the court and be available for duplication at a cost, as specified. The bill would give a member of the public the right to request to view or duplicate accessible records, on the premises of the court and with the requesters equipment in a manner that does not make physical contact with the record, without being charged any fees or costs to reproduce the record, unless reproduction would result in damage to the record or unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or networks, as specified. The bill would authorize the court to impose reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or prevent the copying of the records from being an unreasonable burden, as specified.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 68150 of the Government Code is amended to read:68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 70630 of the Government Code is amended to read:70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 70631 of the Government Code is amended to read:70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 68150 of the Government Code is amended to read:68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.
SECTION 1. Section 68150 of the Government Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.
68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.
68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:(i) Damage to the record.(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.
68150. (a) Trial court records may be created, maintained, and preserved in any form or forms of communication or representation, including paper, optical, electronic, magnetic, micrographic, or photographic media or other technology pursuant to the rules adopted by the Judicial Council pursuant to subdivision (c).
###### 68150.
(b) (1) This section does not apply to court reporters transcripts or to specifications for electronic recordings made as the official record of oral proceedings. These records shall be governed by the California Rules of Court.
(2) This section does not apply to original wills and codicils delivered to the clerk of the court under Section 8200 of the Probate Code. Original wills and codicils shall be retained as provided in Section 26810.
(c) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to establish the standards or guidelines for the creation, maintenance, reproduction, or preservation of court records, including records that must be preserved permanently. The standards or guidelines shall reflect industry standards for each medium used, if those standards exist. The standards or guidelines shall ensure that court records are created and maintained in a manner that ensures accuracy and preserves the integrity of the records throughout their maintenance. They shall also ensure that the records are stored and preserved in a manner that will protect them against loss and ensure preservation for the required period of time. Standards and guidelines for the electronic creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records shall ensure that the public can access and reproduce records with at least the same amount of convenience as paper records previously provided.
(d) Additions, deletions, or changes shall not be made to the content of court records, except as authorized by statute or the California Rules of Court.
(e) Court records shall be indexed for convenient access.
(f) A copy of a court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced according to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be deemed an original court record and may be certified as a true and correct copy of the original record. The clerk of the court may certify a copy of the record by electronic or other technological means, if the means adopted by the court reasonably ensures that the certified copy is a true and correct copy of the original record, or of a specified part of the original record.
(g) Any notice, order, judgment, decree, decision, ruling, opinion, memorandum, warrant, certificate of service, writ, subpoena, or other legal process or similar document issued by a trial court or by a judicial officer of a trial court may be signed, subscribed, or verified using a computer or other technology in accordance with procedures, standards, and guidelines established by the Judicial Council pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, all notices, orders, judgments, decrees, decisions, rulings, opinions, memoranda, warrants, certificates of service, writs, subpoenas, or other legal process or similar documents that are signed, subscribed, or verified by computer or other technological means pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same validity, and the same legal force and effect, as paper documents signed, subscribed, or verified by a trial court or a judicial officer of the court.
(h) A court record created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be stored in a manner and in a place that reasonably ensures its preservation against loss, theft, defacement, or destruction for the prescribed retention period under Section 68152.
(i) A court record that was created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (c) may be disposed of in accordance with the procedure under Section 68153, unless it is either of the following:
(1) A comprehensive historical and sample superior court record preserved for research under the California Rules of Court.
(2) A court record that is required to be preserved permanently.
(j) Instructions for access to data stored on a medium other than paper shall be documented.
(k) Each court shall conduct a periodic review of the media in which the court records are stored to ensure that the storage medium is not obsolete and that current technology is capable of accessing and reproducing the records. The court shall reproduce records before the expiration of their estimated lifespan for the medium in which they are stored according to the standards or guidelines established by the Judicial Council.
(l) (1) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records created, maintained, preserved, or reproduced under subdivisions (a) and (c) shall be made reasonably accessible to all members of the public for viewing and duplication as the paper records would have been accessible. Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.
(2) Unless access is otherwise restricted by law, court records maintained in electronic form shall be viewable at the court, regardless of whether they are also accessible remotely. Reasonable provision shall be made for duplicating the records at cost. Cost shall consist of all costs associated with duplicating the records as determined by the court.
(3) (A) A member of the public requesting to view and duplicate on the premises of the court a record that is accessible pursuant to this section has the right to use the requesters equipment on those premises, without being charged any fees or costs, to photograph or otherwise copy or reproduce the record in a manner that does not require the equipment to make physical contact with the record, unless the means of copy or reproduction would result in either of the following:
(i) Damage to the record.
(ii) Unauthorized access to the agencys computer systems or secured networks by using software, equipment, or any other technology capable of accessing, altering, or compromising the agencys electronic records.
(B) The court may impose any reasonable limits on the use of the requesters equipment that are necessary to protect the safety of the records or to prevent the copying of records from being an unreasonable burden to the orderly function of the court and its employees. In addition, the court may impose any limit that is necessary to maintain the integrity of, or ensure the long-term preservation of, historic or high-value records.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 70630 of the Government Code is amended to read:70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2. Section 70630 of the Government Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.
70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.
70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.
70630. (a) If the court has made videoconferencing services available, the clerk of the court shall not charge a fee for the parties to appear by videoconferencing that exceeds the pro rata cost to the court of providing the videoconferencing service. This fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.
###### 70630.
(b) Pro rata cost to the court has the same meaning as in Section 70631.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 70631 of the Government Code is amended to read:70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3. Section 70631 of the Government Code is amended to read:
### SEC. 2.SEC. 3.
70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.(2) The amount of the fee.(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.
70631. (a) In the absence of a statute or rule explicitly authorizing or prohibiting a fee by the superior court for a particular service or product, the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the pro rata cost to the court of providing the service or product. A fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule shall be approved by the Judicial Council. The fee shall be distributed to the court in which it was collected.
###### 70631.
(b) By March 1, 2027, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, regarding each fee charged by a superior court as of December 31, 2026, that is not explicitly authorized or prohibited by statute or rule, that includes all of the following information:
(1) The particular service or product that is provided by payment of the fee.
(2) The amount of the fee.
(3) Whether the fee was approved by the Judicial Council, and the date of the approval, if any.
(4) The annual cost to the court for providing the particular service or product. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact cost, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of its cost.
(5) The number of persons who used the service or product each calendar year. If it is not feasible for the court to determine the exact number of persons who used the service or product, despite its good faith effort to do so, the court may provide a good faith estimate of the number of persons who used the service or product that calendar year.
(6) The cost to the court of providing the fee or service, determined by dividing the cost of paragraph (4) by the number of users in paragraph (5).
(c) By March 1, 2028, and March 1 of each year thereafter, the Judicial Council shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding each new fee charged by a superior court during the preceding calendar year that includes the information specified in subdivision (b). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(d) For purposes of this section, pro rata cost to the court means a reasonable estimate of the amount of money that a fee or service costs for the court to provide to an individual court user that is not funded, reimbursed, or directly paid by the Legislature.