85R9401 CAE-D     By: Guillen H.B. No. 2875       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the imposition of additional fees for filing civil   cases in certain Willacy 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 51.713 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.713.  ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN   WILLACY COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to district courts,   the constitutional county court, and justice courts in Willacy   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 Willacy 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 Willacy 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 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:                (1)  the construction, renovation, or improvement of   the facilities that house the Willacy County civil courts; and                (2)  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 Willacy County civil   courts.          (e)  This section applies only to fees for a 12-month period   beginning October 1, if the commissioners court:                (1)  adopts a resolution authorizing a fee of not more   than $20;                (2)  adopts a resolution requiring the county to spend   one dollar for the construction, renovation, or improvement of the   court facilities or to pay the principal of, interest on, and costs   of issuance of bonds issued for the construction of court   facilities for each dollar spent from the special account dedicated   to that purpose; and                (3)  files the resolutions 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)  A resolution adopted under Subsection (e) 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 may rescind a resolution   adopted under Subsection (e) 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)   is rescinded as provided by Subsection (g); or                (2)  October 1, 2045.          (i)  The county may make the required expenditure described   by Subsection (e)(2) at any time, regardless of when the   expenditure from the special account occurs.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 101.061194 to read as follows:          Sec. 101.061194.  ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT FEES FOR COURT   FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a district court in   Willacy County shall collect an additional filing fee of not more   than $20 under Section 51.713, 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.  Subchapter G, Chapter 101, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 101.12122 to read as follows:          Sec. 101.12122.  ADDITIONAL COUNTY COURT FEES FOR COURT   FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of the county court in   Willacy County shall collect an additional filing fee of not more   than $20 under Section 51.713, 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 4.  Subchapter H, Chapter 101, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 101.143 to read as follows:          Sec. 101.143.  ADDITIONAL JUSTICE COURT FEES FOR COURT   FACILITIES COLLECTED BY CLERK. The clerk of a justice court in   Willacy County shall collect an additional filing fee of not more   than $20 under Section 51.713, 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.