HB941: HB941 Tift County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

26 LC 62 0270/AP House Bill 941 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Ford of the 170th and O’Steen of the 169th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Tift1 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 Tift 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 and not to exceed $5.00 as a surcharge upon9 each fine assessed by the court. Such technology fees shall be used exclusively to provide10 for technological needs of the Probate Court of Tift County. Such uses shall include only the11 following:12 (1) Computer hardware, software, and accessory purchases;13 (2) Lease, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware;14 (3) Purchase, lease, maintenance, and installation of imaging, scanning, facsimile,15 communications, projection, and printing equipment and software; and16 H. B. 941 - 1 - 26 LC 62 0270/AP (4) Procurement of services or equipment for the conversion of court records and archives17 to digital content for public access.18 (b) Funds collected pursuant to this section shall be maintained in a segregated account by19 the clerk of the probate court, subject to audit by an auditor approved by the governing20 authority of Tift County, and shall be used only for the purposes authorized in this section.21 (c) The authority to assess the technology fee pursuant to thi s Act shall terminate on22 July 1, 2036, and any residual funds remaining in the account established by subsection (b)23 of this section shall remain dedicated to general Tift County technology uses.24 SECTION 2.25 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.26 H. B. 941 - 2 -