HCS SCS SB 916 -- COURT FEES

SPONSOR:  Dougherty (Smith)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Civil and
Administrative Law by a vote of 15 to 0.

This substitute removes the sunset clause on a provision allowing
counties to impose a surcharge on civil cases and marriage
licenses to fund a local domestic violence shelter.

The substitute also increases court transcription fees from $1.50
to $2.25 per page.  The cost per page will increase with
inflation each year, starting in January 2004.  In addition, the
substitute increases court costs for contested civil cases in
circuit court from $15 to $25.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect to General Revenue Fund of an
Income of $560,417 to a Cost of Unknown in FY 2003, an Income of
$515,675 to a Cost of Unknown in FY 2004, an Income of $508,645
to a Cost of Unknown in FY 2005.  Oversight would expect costs to
other state agencies to exceed $100,000 annually.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that there are a handful of counties
that have not elected to impose a surcharge on marriage licenses
and civil cases to fund a domestic violence shelter, and the
substitute will simply allow those counties to choose to do so in
the future.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Hosmer; and Missouri
Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am