Crawford County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee
Summary
HB 781 authorizes the Magistrate Court of Crawford County to assess a technology fee of up to $5 on each civil filing and up to $5 as a surcharge on each fine imposed by the court. The bill directs that the revenue be used exclusively for the court’s technology-related needs, including computer hardware and software, equipment purchases and maintenance, imaging and scanning systems, communications and printing equipment, and the digitization of court records and archives for public access.
The bill also requires the collected funds to be kept in a segregated account by the magistrate court clerk, limiting spending to the purposes listed in the act. The fee authority is temporary and will terminate on July 1, 2035. Any money left in the account after termination remains dedicated to general Crawford County technology uses. The act repeals conflicting laws.
Impact
HB 781 creates a local funding mechanism for Crawford County’s Magistrate Court by allowing the court to impose and collect a dedicated technology fee. It affects civil litigants and individuals paying fines in that county, while also establishing accounting and use restrictions for the clerk’s office. The bill amends local law only and does not create a statewide fee or change general Georgia court funding statutes.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Georgia House 164-0 and the Senate 49-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests there was little public or legislative dispute over the measure.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. Because the bill is a local act focused on a modest fee increase for technology purposes, any potential concerns would likely center on the added cost to court users and whether the fee is necessary or appropriately limited. However, the unanimous votes suggest those concerns did not rise to a level of recorded contention.