SB344: SB344 Probate Court of Crawford County; assessment and collection of a technology fee; authorize

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Crawford County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of no more than $5 for each civil case filed and up to $5 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money can only go toward the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining imaging and printing equipment, and converting paper court records into digital files for public access. The fees must be kept in a separate account and used only for these approved purposes. The authority to collect the fee ends on July 1, 2035, and any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Crawford County technology uses. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Crawford County's clerk to charge up to $5 per civil filing as a technology fee.
• Allows a separate surcharge of up to $5 on each fine assessed by the court, also dedicated to technology needs.
• Limits use of the collected fees to specific technology purposes: computer equipment, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a segregated account managed by the clerk of the probate court.
• Sets the fee authority to expire on July 1, 2035, with leftover funds redirected to general Crawford County technology uses.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Crawford County or who are fined by that court, as well as the court's clerk and judge, who set and manage the fee, and Crawford County government, which benefits from any leftover technology funds after 2035.

Anyone filing a case or paying a fine in Crawford County's probate court would pay a small added fee, funding upgrades like digital record storage and modern office equipment. The fee is capped and time-limited, and its use is restricted to specific technology purchases rather than general county spending.

• Section 1(a) sets the technology fee at up to $5.00 per civil filing and up to $5.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) restricts fee use to computer hardware and software, equipment leasing and maintenance, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Section 1(b) requires the funds to be held in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2035, with any remaining funds dedicated to general Crawford County technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date 2025-04-30
2. 2025-04-30Act 39
3. 2025-04-30Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)

• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)Primary sponsor
• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #291

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2025

   168 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #377

• court fees
• Crawford County
• probate court
• local government technology