Practical Uses of Your Technology Fund

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Practical Uses of Your Technology Fund
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CODE OF CRIMINAL ROCEDURE
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CHAPTER CCP 102COSTS PAID BY DEFENDANTS
Art. 102.0173. COURT COSTS JUSTICE COURT
TECHNOLOGY FUND.
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• The wording on the law is basically the same for
  both Municipal and Justice Court except where it
  explains the Governing Body and Except for
  continuing education for the Justice Court and a
  flat rate of 4.00.
• The county governing body would be the
• Commissioners Court.

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• The Commissioners Court must approve the added
  fee of 4.00
• It may not exceed 4.00 per conviction.
• This fee is on each conviction.
• The clerk of the court shall collect the fee
• Turn the fee into the County Treasurer

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• A defendant convicted of a misdemeanor
  offense in
• justice court shall pay a 4 justice court
  technology fee
• as a cost of court for deposit in the fund
• (b) In this article, a person is considered
  convicted if
• (1) a sentence is imposed on the person
  or
• (2) the court defers final disposition of
  the person's
• case.
• (c) The justice court clerk shall collect the
  costs and pay
• the funds to the county treasurer, or
  to any other
• official who discharges the duties
  commonly
• delegated to the county treasurer, for
  deposit in a
• fund to be known as the justice court
  technology
• fund.

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79th Legislative Update

• Changed the wording on the Technology
• Fee from a Commissioners Court may impose the
  fee to
• To SHALL impose the 4.00 fee
• And the defendant may pay the fee to
• SHALL pay the fee
• From discretionary to Mandatory Fee

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• The fee that is collected can only
• be used for the Justice Court

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What can the fee be used on?

• (d) A fund designated by this article may
  be
• used only to finance
• (1) the cost of continuing education and
  
• training for justice court judges
  and
• clerks regarding technological
• enhancements for justice courts
  and
• (2) the purchase and maintenance of
• technological enhancements for a
• justice court, including

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• (A) computer systems
  
• (B) computer networks
  
• (C) computer hardware
  
• (D) computer software
  
• (E) imaging systems
  
• (F) electronic kiosks
  
• (G) electronic ticket writers and
  
• (H) docket management systems.
  
• (e) The justice court technology fund shall be
  
• administered by or under the direction
  of the
• commissioners court of the county.