HF 3231

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/01/2018 03:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to courts; making the court technology fund permanent; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 357.021, subdivision 2b.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 357.021, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:

Subd. 2b.

Court technology fund.

(a) In addition to any other filing fee under this
chapter, the court administrator shall collect a $2 technology fee on filings made under
subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (13). The court administrator shall transmit the fee monthly to
the commissioner of management and budget for deposit in the court technology account
in the special revenue fund.

(b) A court technology account is established as a special account in the state treasury
and funds deposited in the account are appropriated to the Supreme Court for distribution
of technology funds as provided in paragraph (d). Technology funds may be used for the
following purposes: acquisition, development, support, maintenance, and upgrades to
computer systems, equipment and devices, network systems, electronic records, filings and
payment systems, interactive video teleconferencing, and online services, to be used by the
state courts and their justice partners.

(c) The Judicial Council may establish a board consisting of members from the judicial
branch, prosecutors, public defenders, corrections, and civil legal services to distribute funds
collected under paragraph (a). The Judicial Council may adopt policies and procedures for
the operation of the board, including but not limited to policies and procedures governing
membership terms, removal of members, and the filling of membership vacancies.

(d) Applications for the expenditure of technology funds shall be accepted from the
judicial branch, county and city attorney offices, the Board of Public Defense, qualified
legal services programs as defined under section 480.24, corrections agencies, and part-time
public defender offices. The applications shall be reviewed by the Judicial Council and, if
established, the board. In accordance with any recommendations from the board, the Judicial
Council shall distribute the funds available for this expenditure to selected recipients.

deleted text begin (e) By January 15, 2015, and by January 15, 2017, the Judicial Council shall submit a
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over judiciary finance providing an accounting on the amounts
collected and expended in the previous biennium, including a list of fund recipients, the
amounts awarded to each recipient, and the technology purpose funded.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) This subdivision expires June 30, 2018.
deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end