1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to landlord tenant; forcible entry and 
  1.3             unlawful detainer; providing for partial payment of 
  1.4             the filing fee in matters resolved after one court 
  1.5             appearance; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 
  1.6             566.09, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 566.09, is 
  1.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 1a.  [FILING FEE.] Upon the filing of an unlawful 
  1.11  detainer action, a party shall pay one-half the filing fee 
  1.12  required under section 357.021, subdivision 2, clause (1).  If 
  1.13  the matter is not resolved at the first court appearance by 
  1.14  settlement, default judgment, or otherwise, the party shall pay 
  1.15  the remaining one-half of the filing fee required under section 
  1.16  357.021, subdivision 2, clause (1).  If the remaining one-half 
  1.17  of the filing fee is not paid, the case shall be dismissed upon 
  1.18  the court's own motion.  If a party is liable to another party 
  1.19  for payment of filing fees, the party shall be liable only for 
  1.20  that portion of the filing fees not refunded by the court. 
  1.21     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  1.22     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1995, and applies to court 
  1.23  appearances on and after that date.