HB538: HB538 Schley County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Schley County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of no more than $5 for each civil action filed with the court and no more than $5 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money can only be spent on the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, and printing equipment, and converting court records into digital form for public access. The fees must be kept in a separate account managed by the clerk, and that account is subject to audit by an auditor approved by Schley County's governing authority. The authority to collect this fee ends on July 1, 2035, at which point any money left in the account stays dedicated to general technology uses for Schley County.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Schley County's clerk to charge up to $5.00 for each civil action filed with the court.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $5.00 on each fine assessed by the court.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purposes, including hardware, software, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the fee funds to be kept in a segregated account subject to audit by a county-approved auditor.
• Sets July 1, 2035 as the date the fee authority ends, with leftover funds dedicated to general Schley County technology uses.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Schley County and people who are fined by that court would pay the new fee or surcharge. The court clerk, the probate judge, and Schley County's governing authority and auditors would administer and oversee the funds.

Residents dealing with the Schley County Probate Court, whether filing paperwork or paying a fine, would pay a small added cost that funds court technology upgrades like digital record conversion and equipment. The fee is capped, tracked separately, and expires in 2035 unless renewed.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee structure: up to $5.00 per civil filing and up to $5.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) limits use of the fee to four categories: computer hardware/software purchases, hardware maintenance and installation, imaging/scanning/communications equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Section 1(b) requires the funds be kept in a segregated account subject to audit approved by Schley County's governing authority.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2035 and dedicates any leftover funds to general county technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date 2025-04-30
2. 2025-04-30Act 32
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-10Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 27, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #99

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #221

• court fees
• local legislation
• Schley County
• probate court
• court technology funding