Probate and state courts seek local authorization for a technology fee to support e‑filing and in‑court public terminals

Judge Haney asked the Board to approve a resolution supporting local legislation to authorize a probate and state court technology fee. The court seeks local legislative authorization for a technology fee similar to an existing magistrate court fee that would fund hardware and software needs, public access e‑filing terminals and in‑office fingerprint terminal capability.

Haney said the magistrate court established a technology fee in 2017 and that probate and state courts now need consistent authority because the courts anticipate mandatory e‑filing requirements. "...it'll require us for equal access to justice purposes to provide stations in our court for the public to be able to e file," Haney said, adding that software and hardware purchases and a terminal agency designation (to run fingerprints in‑house) are among the targeted uses of a fee.

He told commissioners that local legislators (Tyler Paul Smith and Senator Tim Bearden were referenced) are willing to carry companion bills in the General Assembly, and that the courts asked the Board for a resolution supporting the local legislation. Haney said magistrate representatives had suggested a $10 fee as a cap (some counties have authorized higher amounts), and the courts proposed consistency with the magistrate court's prior local legislation.

The judge and commissioners discussed fee level comparability with other counties and the courts' intent to keep fees reasonable. Haney said the probate court council had recently restructured other probate fees and that combining a technology fee now would be administratively simpler.

Staff indicated the item would be placed on the consent agenda for the formal meeting. No formal vote was recorded in the work session.