85R5349 CAE-D     By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 540       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the filing fee imposed in civil cases in Hidalgo County   and Cameron County.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 51.711, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (b), (f), (g), (h), and (i) and adding   Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:          (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section and in   addition to all other fees authorized or required by other law, the   clerk of a court shall collect a filing fee of not more than $20 in   each civil case filed in the court to be used:                (1)  for the construction, renovation, or improvement   of the facilities that house the Hidalgo County or Cameron County   civil courts; and                (2)  to pay the principal of, interest on, and costs of   issuance of bonds issued for the construction, renovation, or   improvement of the facilities that house the Hidalgo County or   Cameron County civil courts.          (e-1)  If Hidalgo County or Cameron County has adopted a   resolution authorizing a fee as provided by Subsection (e) that is   abolished on or before October 1, 2030, the county may:                (1)  adopt a resolution authorizing the fee adopted   under Subsection (e) to continue until October 1, 2045;                 (2)  adopt a resolution providing that the county must   continue to spend one dollar for the construction, renovation, or   improvement of the court facilities for each dollar spent from the   special account dedicated to that purpose; and                (3)  file the resolution adopted under this subsection   with the county treasurer or with any other official who discharges   the duties commonly assigned to the county treasurer not later than   September 1 immediately preceding the first 12-month period during   which the county has authorized the fee to continue to be collected   through October 1, 2045.          (f)  A resolution adopted under Subsection (e) continues   from year to year until October 1, 2030, if adopted under Subsection   (e) before September 1, 2017, or October 1, 2045, if adopted under   Subsection (e) on or after September 1, 2017, allowing the county to   collect fees under the terms of this section until the resolution is   rescinded.  A resolution adopted under Subsection (e-1) continues   from year to year until October 1, 2045, allowing the county to   collect fees under the terms of this section until the resolution is   rescinded.          (g)  The commissioners court of the county collecting the fee   may rescind a resolution adopted under Subsection (e) or (e-1) by   adopting a resolution rescinding the resolution and submitting the   rescission resolution to the county treasurer or to any other   official who discharges the duties commonly assigned to the county   treasurer not later than September 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)   or (e-1) is rescinded as provided by Subsection (g); [or]                (2)  October 1, 2030, if adopted under Subsection (e)   before September 1, 2017;                 (3)  October 1, 2045, if adopted under Subsection (e)   on or after September 1, 2017; or                (4)  October 1, 2045, if adopted under Subsection   (e-1).          (i)  Hidalgo County or Cameron County may make the required   expenditure described by Subsection (e)(2) or (e-1)(2) at any time,   regardless of when the expenditure from the special account occurs.          SECTION 2.  Sections 101.061192, 101.081191, and 101.10119,   Government Code, are amended to read as follows:          Sec. 101.061192.  ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT FEES FOR COURT   FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE.  The clerk of a district court in   Hidalgo County and the clerk of a district court in Cameron County   shall collect an additional filing fee of not more than $20 under   Section 51.711, Government Code, in civil cases to fund the:                (1)  construction, renovation, or improvement of court   facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court; and                (2)  payment of the principal of, interest on, and   costs of issuance of bonds issued for the construction, renovation,   or improvement of court facilities, if authorized by the county   commissioners court.          Sec. 101.081191.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES FOR   COURT FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE.  The clerk of a statutory county   court in Hidalgo County and the clerk of a statutory county court in   Cameron County shall collect an additional filing fee of not more   than $20 under Section 51.711, Government Code, in civil cases to   fund the:                (1)  construction, renovation, or improvement of court   facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court; and                (2)  payment of the principal of, interest on, and   costs of issuance of bonds issued for the construction, renovation,   or improvement of court facilities, if authorized by the county   commissioners court.          Sec. 101.10119.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY PROBATE COURT FEES FOR   COURT FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE.  The clerk of a statutory   probate court in Hidalgo County shall collect an additional filing   fee of not more than $20 under Section 51.711, Government Code, in   civil cases to fund the:                (1)  construction, renovation, or improvement of court   facilities, if authorized by the county commissioners court; and                (2)  payment of the principal of, interest on, and   costs of issuance of bonds issued for the construction, renovation,   or improvement of court facilities, if authorized by the county   commissioners court.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.