HF 2000

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/02/2012 10:06am

A bill for an act
relating to courts; authorizing county boards to set and impose court security
fee in civil and criminal matters; allotting fee for court security equipment and
personnel; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 357.021, by adding a
subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 357.021, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Court security fees. new text end

new text begin (a) The county board may establish a court security
fee and set the amount, not to exceed $15, to be collected for civil and criminal matters,
including petty misdemeanor cases, in the district and conciliation courts of the county.
The fee shall be set on July 1 each year and remain in effect until changed. All court
security fees shall be published in the State Register.
new text end

new text begin (b) In each county that approves a court security fee, the court administrator shall
collect in each civil suit, action, or proceeding filed in the district and conciliation courts,
in the manner in which other fees are collected, a court security fee from:
new text end

new text begin (1) the plaintiff, petitioner, or other person instituting the suit, action, or proceeding
at the time of the filing of the first paper; and
new text end

new text begin (2) each defendant, respondent, intervenor, or other party who appears, either
separately or jointly, to be collected at the time of the filing of the first paper by
the defendant, respondent, intervenor, or other party, or at the time when the party's
appearance is entered in the case.
new text end

new text begin (c) In each county that approves a court security fee, the court shall impose and
the court administrator shall collect a court security fee on every person convicted of
any felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor offense. When a
defendant is convicted of more than one offense in a case, the court security fee shall be
imposed only once in that case. The fee shall be imposed whether or not the person is
sentenced to imprisonment or the sentence is stayed. The fee shall not be imposed when a
person is convicted of a petty misdemeanor for which no fine is imposed or in cases in
which a fine is paid without a court appearance.
new text end

new text begin (d) The court security fee is a cost in the action and taxable as such, and is allotted
for the following security purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) purchase, repair, upgrades, and maintenance of:
new text end

new text begin (i) x-ray machines and conveying systems;
new text end

new text begin (ii) handheld or walk-through metal detectors;
new text end

new text begin (iii) identification cards and systems;
new text end

new text begin (iv) electronic locking and surveillance equipment;
new text end

new text begin (v) computer systems and hardware;
new text end

new text begin (vi) security signage;
new text end

new text begin (vii) confiscated weapon inventory and tracking systems;
new text end

new text begin (viii) bullet-proof glass and bullet-resistant soft body armor;
new text end

new text begin (ix) locks, chains, alarms, or similar security devices; and
new text end

new text begin (x) any other security equipment approved by the county board; and
new text end

new text begin (2) personnel and training expenses related to court security.
new text end

new text begin (e) The court security fee shall be paid to the county treasurer or county auditor who
shall issue a receipt. The county treasurer or county auditor may disburse these funds at
the direction of the county board. Funds generated from the fee must not supplant existing
budgets for bailiffs or court facility operating expenses.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to civil
actions filed on or after that date and to offenses committed on or after that date.
new text end