85R18624 CAE-D     By: Guillen H.B. No. 2875     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2875:     By:  Smithee C.S.H.B. No. 2875       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the imposition of additional fees for filing civil   cases in Willacy County and Starr 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 51.713 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.713.  ADDITIONAL FILING FEE FOR CIVIL CASES IN   WILLACY COUNTY AND STARR COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to:                (1)  district courts, the constitutional county court,   and justice courts in Willacy County; and                (2)  district courts, the county court at law, and   justice courts in Starr 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 or Starr 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 or   Starr 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 the county in which the court is   located 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 or Starr 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 or   Starr County civil courts.          (e)  This section applies only to fees for a 12-month period   beginning October 1, if the commissioners court of the county   collecting the fee:                (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 of the county collecting the fee   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)  Willacy County or Starr 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 and the clerk of a district court in Starr 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 E, Chapter 101, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 101.081195 to read as follows:          Sec. 101.081195.  ADDITIONAL STATUTORY COUNTY COURT FEES FOR   COURT FACILITIES: GOVERNMENT CODE. The clerk of a statutory county   court in Starr 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 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 5.  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 and the clerk of a justice court in Starr 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 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.