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Minutes for HB2541 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Crediting docket fees to the state general fund instead of the judicial branch docket fee fund; crediting marriage license fees and drivers' license reinstatement fees to the state general fund instead of the judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 9, 2022
JIll Wolters, Office of the Revisor of Statutes presented the bill brief (Attachment 1). HB 2541 credits docket fees and other additional fees to the State General Fund (SGF), instead of the Judicial Branch Docket Fee Fund, Judicial Branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund and judicial branch nonjudicial salary imitative fund, as applicable; crediting marriage license fees and drivers' license reinstatement fees to the SGF instead of the judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund.
Marla Luckert, Chief Justice, Kansas Judicial Branch, presented testimony as a proponent of the bill (Attachment 2). The bill would shift the deposit of the court user fees to the State General Fund (SGF). The deposit of these funds would achieve a net neutral exchange or a possible gain for the SGF and provide a stable, predictable funding source, she noted.
Marla Luckert and Stephanie Bunton responded to questions by committee members. It was noted the courts did not reject hearing a court case as a result of the pandemic. As requested pre-pandemic historical information regarding filing fees will be forthcoming. Going forward, funding requests will be based on need and not revenue projections, which may create volatility, as related to case filing, it was noted. Discussion followed by committee members regarding statutes and procedures related to docket fees, including funding for non-judicial salaries.
Written testimony as proponents of the bill included Kim Cudney, President, Kansas District Judges (Attachment 3) and Joseph Molina, Kansas Bar Association (Attachment 4).
