HB1569: HB1569 McDonough, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

26 LC 47 4091/AP House Bill 1569 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Santos of the 117th and Kahaian of the 81st A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Municipal Court of the1 City of McDonough; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for2 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:4 SECTION 1.5 (a) The clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of McDonough is hereby authorized to6 charge and collect a technology fee to be set by the judge of the municipal court in an amount7 not to exceed $15.00 as a surcharge to each criminal and quasi-criminal fine paid to the court. 8 Such technology fees shall be used exclusively to provide for t echnological needs of the9 Municipal Court of the City of McDonough and the city's public safety services. Such uses10 shall include only the following:11 (1) Purchasing, leasing, upgrading, maintaining, and installin g of general technology12 infrastructure, including computer hardware, software, and equipment used for imaging,13 scanning, facsimile transmission, communication, printing, and projections;14 (2) Purchasing, leasing, maintaining, upgrading, and subscribing to software-as-a-service15 (SaaS) platforms and evidence management systems;16 H. B. 1569 - 1 - 26 LC 47 4091/AP (3) Purchasing, leasing, upgrading, maintaining, and installin g equipment for imaging,17 scanning, facsimile, communication, and projections;18 (4) Purchasing, leasing, upgrading, maintaining, and operating body-worn, mobile, fixed,19 or vehicle mounted cameras, automated license plate reader syst ems, drones, and other20 emerging public safety technology; 21 (5) Any additional technology necessary to improve public safe ty and court efficiency,22 service delivery, and effectiveness; and23 (6) Any other technology related equipment, system, or service the city deems necessary24 for enhancing public safety or court operations.25 (b) All funds collected pursuant to this Act shall be maintained in a segregated account by26 the chief financial officer or director of finance of the city and the clerk of the municipal27 court, separate from other funds of the city. Funds shall be expended only for the purposes28 authorized in this section, upon direction of the mayor or city administrator. The funds may29 also be used to reimburse the city's information technology department for services provided30 to the court or public safety operations.31 (c) The technology fee shall be in addition to any other fines or fees authorized by law and32 shall be assessed only upon conviction, a nolo plea, or final disposition of the case. No fee33 shall be assessed for cases that are dismissed or nolle prossed.34 SECTION 2.35 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.36 H. B. 1569 - 2 -