89R4200 AMF-F
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1015
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to excess contributions and fees allocated to statutory
probate courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.00212, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) At the end of each state fiscal year, the comptroller
shall determine:
(1) the amounts deposited in the judicial fund under
Section 133.151(c)(1), Local Government Code, from fees remitted by
statutory probate courts under Section 133.151(a)(1), Local
Government Code; and
(2) the sum of the amount paid under Section
25.0022(e) and the total amounts paid to the counties under Section
25.00211.
(a-1) If the comptroller determines the total amount
deposited in the judicial fund by statutory probate courts in all
counties as calculated under Subsection (a)(1) exceeds the sum
calculated under Subsection (a)(2) [that sum], the comptroller
[state] shall remit the excess proportionately to each county that
contributed [deposited] a greater amount to [in] the judicial fund
from fees collected by a statutory probate court than the amount the
county was paid under Section 25.00211, as adjusted in an equitable
manner to reflect the differences in the total amounts paid to the
counties under Section 25.00211.
SECTION 2. Section 25.0022(f), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) Each county pays annually to the presiding judge, from
fees allocated to the judicial education and support fund under
[collected pursuant to] Section 135.102 [118.052(2)(A)(vi)], Local
Government Code, the amount of the salary apportioned [to it] as
provided by this section and the other expenses authorized by this
section. The presiding judge shall place each county's payment of
salary and other expenses in an administrative fund, from which the
salary and other expenses are paid. The salary shall be paid in
equal monthly installments.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
25.00212, Government Code, apply only to amounts deposited in the
judicial fund under Section 133.151(c)(1), Local Government Code,
from fees collected by a statutory probate court on or after the
effective date of this Act. Amounts deposited in the judicial fund
under Section 133.151(c)(1), Local Government Code, from fees
collected by a statutory probate court before the effective date of
this Act are governed by the law in effect when the fees were
collected, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.