Crawford County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee
Summary
HB785 is a local act authorizing the Probate Court of Crawford County to impose a technology fee of up to $5 on each civil filing and up to $5 as a surcharge on each fine assessed by the court. The bill directs that the revenue be used exclusively for the court’s technological needs, including computer hardware and software, related equipment and maintenance, and the digitization of court records and archives for public access.
The measure also requires the fee revenue to be held in a segregated account by the probate court clerk and limits spending to the purposes listed in the bill. The authority to collect the fee expires on July 1, 2035, and any remaining funds after termination are dedicated to general Crawford County technology uses. The bill repeals conflicting laws.
Impact
HB785 amends local law for Crawford County by creating a new, court-specific funding mechanism for probate court technology. It affects litigants and fine payers in the county by adding a small fee to civil filings and court fines, while giving the probate court a dedicated revenue stream for equipment, software, digital conversion, and related technology services. The bill also establishes a sunset date and directs residual funds to county technology purposes after the fee authority ends.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House 164-0 and the Senate 49-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests there was little recorded debate or opposition.
Contention
No significant points of contention are evident in the available record. Because the bill is a local measure with a narrow purpose and a modest fee cap, any potential concerns would likely relate to the added cost to court users or the use of fine revenue, but no opposition or disputed issues are reflected in the votes or transcripts provided.