HB32: HB32 Cook County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

25 LC 47 3116/AP House Bill 32 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Cannon of the 172nd and Ford of the 170th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Cook1 County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination2 of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds; to pro vide for related matters; to3 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 (a) The clerk of the Probate Court of Cook County is hereby authorized to charge and collect7 a technology fee to be set by the judge of the probate court in an amount not to exceed $5.008 for the filing of each civil action with the court. Such techn ology fees shall be used9 exclusively to provide for technological needs of the Probate Court of Cook County. Such10 uses shall include only the following:11 (1) Computer hardware and software purchases;12 (2) Lease, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware; and13 (3) Purchase, lease, maintenance, and installation of imaging, scanning, facsimile,14 communications, projection, and printing equipment and software.15 H. B. 32 - 1 - 25 LC 47 3116/AP (b) Funds collected pursuant to this section shall be maintained in a segregated account by16 the clerk of the probate court, subject to audit by an auditor approved by the governing17 authority of Cook County, and shall be used only for the purposes authorized in this section.18 (c) The authority to assess the technology fee pursuant to thi s Act shall terminate on19 July 1, 2030, and any residual funds remaining in the account established by subsection (b)20 of this section shall remain dedicated to general Cook County t echnology uses; provided,21 however, that, if the Probate Court of Cook County determines there to be a surplus of such22 funds, the judge of said court may declare a surplus once a year and transfer such surplus to23 the governing authority of Cook County.24 SECTION 2.25 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.26 H. B. 32 - 2 -