Bill > HB1478

This bill, titled the "Court Technology Funding Act," establishes a statewide framework for funding court technology needs by allowing for the imposition of additional fees and penalties. Specifically, it amends existing law to include technology funding as a priority for the distribution of fines and other court-collected funds. The bill creates a new article that authorizes local governing authorities (county or municipal bodies) to adopt resolutions to implement these new fees. These fees include an additional civil filing fee of up to $5.00 in various civil cases across different court levels, and an additional penalty of up to $5.00 in criminal, traffic, and ordinance violation cases. The collected funds will be deposited into a dedicated technology fund, administered by the court clerk and overseen by the chief judge, to be used for essential court technology needs such as hardware, software, network services, and employee training. The bill also requires the development of a court technology plan, which must align with Judicial Council of Georgia technology standards, and mandates annual reporting on fund collection and expenditures. Importantly, this Act preempts any existing local laws that provide for court technology fees, meaning that after July 1, 2027, no new local technology fee laws can be enacted, and existing ones will be superseded if a court adopts a technology plan under this new state law. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 2027, and its application depends on local governing authorities adopting the provisions.