87R6695 ANG-D     By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 643       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED     relating to authorizing the imposition of additional fees for   filing civil cases in Nueces County.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.712 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.712.  ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN   NUECES COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to district courts   and county courts at law in Nueces County.          (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 Nueces County civil courts; and                (2)  to pay the principal of, interest on, and costs of   issuance of bonds, including refunding bonds, issued for the   construction, renovation, or improvement of the facilities that   house the Nueces 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 of Nueces County or to any other   official who discharges the duties commonly assigned to the county   treasurer at least as frequently as monthly. The treasurer or other   official 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 Nueces County civil courts.          (e)  This section applies only to fees for a 12-month period   beginning October 1, if the Commissioners Court of Nueces County:                (1)  adopts an order authorizing a fee of not more than   $20;                (2)  adopts an order requiring the county to spend one   dollar for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the   facilities that house the Nueces County civil courts for each   dollar spent from the special account dedicated to that purpose;   and                (3)  files the orders 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 fees are to be   collected.          (f)  An order adopted under Subsection (e) continues from   year to year until October 1, 2036, allowing Nueces County to   collect fees under the terms of this section until the order is   rescinded.          (g)  The Commissioners Court of Nueces County may rescind an   order adopted under Subsection (e) by adopting an order rescinding   the order and submitting the rescission order 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   authorization order in the manner provided by Subsection (e) after   rescinding a previous order under that subsection.          (h)  A fee established under a particular order is abolished   on the earlier of:                (1)  the date an order adopted under Subsection (e) is   rescinded as provided by Subsection (g); or                (2)  October 1, 2036.          (i)  Nueces County may make the required expenditure   described by Subsection (e)(2) at any time, regardless of when the   expenditure from the special account occurs.          (j)  This section expires September 1, 2037.          SECTION 2.  (a)  Notwithstanding Section 51.607(c),   Government Code, the clerk of a court may begin collecting the fee   authorized by Section 51.712(b), Government Code, as added by this   Act, October 1, 2021, if:                (1)  the requirements of Section 51.712, Government   Code, as added by this Act, are satisfied; and                (2)  this Act is passed by a record vote of two-thirds   of all the members elected to each house of the legislature on final   consideration in each house, as required by Section 46(d), Article   III, Texas Constitution.          (b)  If this Act does not receive the vote specified by   Subsection (a)(2) of this section, the clerk of a court may not   begin collecting the fee authorized by Section 51.712(b),   Government Code, as added by this Act, until October 1 of the first   year after 2021 in which the requirements of Section 51.712,   Government Code, as added by this Act, are satisfied.          SECTION 3.  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, 2021.