sb351.html

05 SB351/AP

Senate Bill 351

By: Senator Kemp of the 46th

AS PASSED

AN ACT

To amend an Act establishing a City Court in the County of Clarke, formerly known as the State Court of Clarke County, Georgia, approved September 9, 1879 (Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 291), as amended, now known as the State Court of Athens-Clarke County, as redesignated by an Act approved March 2, 1990 (Ga. L. 1990, p. 3560), so as to authorize the court to charge a technology fee for each civil case filed and each criminal fine imposed; to specify the uses to which said technology fees may be utilized; to provide for the automatic repeal of such fee; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act establishing a City Court in the County of Clarke, formerly known as the State Court of Clarke County, Georgia, approved September 9, 1879 (Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 291), as amended, now known as the State Court of Athens-Clarke County, as redesignated by an Act approved March 2, 1990 (Ga. L. 1990, p. 3560), is amended by striking Section XLVI and inserting in lieu thereof a new Section XLVI to read as follows:

"SECTION XLVI

(a) The clerk of the state court shall be entitled to charge and collect the same fees as the clerk of the superior court is entitled to charge and collect for the same or similar services. All such fees shall be paid into the county treasury, except those sums which are directed by law to be paid otherwise.

(b) The clerk of the state court shall be entitled to charge and collect a technology fee to be set by the court in an amount not to exceed $5.00 for the filing of each civil action and not to exceed $5.00 as a surcharge to each fine paid. Technology fees shall be used exclusively to provide for the technological needs of the court. Such uses shall include only the following:

(1) Computer hardware and software purchases;

(2) Lease, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware and software; and

(3) Purchase, lease, maintenance, and installation of imaging, scanning, facsimile, communications, projection, and printing equipment and software.

The funds collected pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained in a segregated fund by the clerk of the court and shall be used only for the purposes authorized in this subsection at the direction of the chief judge of the court.

SECTION 2.

Said Act is further amended by inserting a new Section XLVII to read as follows:

"SECTION XLVII

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2005.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.