82R12193 T
By: Hartnett H.B. No. 2028
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an additional fee for filing civil cases in certain
Rockwall County courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.709 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.709. ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR ROCKWALL COUNTY
CIVIL COURTS. (a) In this section, "Rockwall County civil court"
means a district court, including a family district court, a
probate court, a county court at law, or a justice court in Rockwall
County. The term does not include a small claims court.
(b) In addition to all other fees authorized or required by
other law, the clerk of a Rockwall County civil 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 Rockwall County civil courts.
(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 shall send the fees collected under this
section to the county treasurer at least as frequently as monthly.
The treasurer 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 Rockwall County civil
courts.
(e) This section applies only to fees for a 12-month period
beginning July 1, if the commissioners court:
(1) adopts a resolution authorizing a fee of no more
than $15;
(2) files the resolutions with the county treasurer
not later than June 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 July 1, 2025, allowing the county to collect
fees under the terms of 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rescinded.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 recision resolution to the county
treasurer not later than June 1 preceding the beginning of the first
day of the county fiscal year. The commissioners court may adopt an
additional resolution in the manner provided by Subsection (e)
after rescinding a previous resolution 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) July 1, 2025.
occurs.
SECTION 2. 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, 2011.