Sec. 51.971. JUDICIAL AND COURT PERSONNEL TRAINING FEE. (a) In addition to other fees authorized or required by law, the clerk of a district court, county court, statutory county court, statutory probate court, or justice court shall collect a $5 fee on the filing of any civil action or proceeding requiring a filing fee, including an appeal, and on the filing of any counterclaim, cross-action, intervention, interpleader, or third party action requiring a filing fee to be used as provided under Section 56.003.

(b) A court may waive payment of a fee due under this section for an individual the court determines is indigent.

(c) Fees due under this section shall be collected in the same manner as other fees, fines, or costs in the case.

(d) The clerk of a district court, county court, statutory county court, statutory probate court, or justice court shall deposit the court costs and fees collected under this section in the appropriate local treasury and remit the court costs and fees to the comptroller in the manner provided under Subchapter B, Chapter 133, Local Government Code.

(e) The comptroller shall deposit the fees received under this section to the credit of the judicial and court personnel training fund established under Section 56.001.

(f) The comptroller may audit the records of a county related to costs and fees collected under this section.

(g) Money spent from costs and fees collected under this section is subject to audit by the state auditor.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 190 (S.B. 42), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.