SB 673
Courthouse construction: filing fee surcharges.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Chaptered
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
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- Passed Assembly
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill extends a surcharge on court filing fees in San Bernardino County. Currently, the Board of Supervisors can impose a $35 surcharge on certain filing fees to fund the Courthouse Construction Fund. This bill extends this authority until January 1, 2039, and includes minor technical changes. The funds collected from the surcharge will be used for earthquake retrofitting and renovations of the Central San Bernardino Courthouse.
Key provisions
- Extends the surcharge authority until January 1, 2039.
- Allows San Bernardino County to impose a surcharge of up to $35 on specific filing fees.
- Specifies that surcharge funds will be used for courthouse construction and earthquake retrofitting.
- Requires notification to the superior court and Judicial Council of any surcharge changes.
- The surcharge does not apply if no filing fee is charged or the fee is waived.
- The surcharge collection terminates upon repayment of amortized costs or 30 years after bond sale, whichever comes first.
Who is affected
- Residents of San Bernardino County
- Individuals filing lawsuits or legal documents in Superior Court
- San Bernardino County Court System
- The Judicial Council
Notable changes
- Extends the existing surcharge authority beyond its current expiration date.
- Clarifies the use of funds from the surcharge specifically for earthquake retrofitting and courthouse renovations.
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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SB673:v96#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
Senate Bill No. 673
CHAPTER 75
An act to amend Section 70624 of the Government Code, relating to courts.
[ Approved by Governor July 28, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State July 28, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 673, Ochoa Bogh. Courthouse construction: filing fee surcharges.
Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County to impose a surcharge, not to exceed $35, on certain filing fees for purposes of funding its Courthouse Construction Fund.
This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2039, and would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 70624 of the Government Code is amended to read:
70624.
(a) In addition to the uniform filing fee authorized pursuant to Section 70611, 70612, 70613, 70614, 70650, 70651, 70652, 70653, 70655, or 70670, after giving notice and holding a public hearing on the proposal, the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County may impose a surcharge not to exceed thirty-five dollars ($35) for the filing in superior court of (1) a complaint, petition, or other first paper in a civil, family, or probate action or special proceeding, and (2) a first paper on behalf of any defendant, respondent, intervenor, or adverse party. The county shall notify, in writing, the superior court and the Judicial Council of any change in a surcharge under this section. If a surcharge under this section is imposed on a filing fee, the distribution that would otherwise be made to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund under subdivision (c) of Section 68085.3 or subdivision (c) of Section 68085.4 shall be reduced as provided in Section 70603. This section shall apply to fees collected under Sections 70611, 70612, 70613, 70614, 70650, 70651, 70652, 70653, 70655, and 70670, beginning January 1, 2006.
(b) The surcharge shall be in an amount determined to be necessary by the board of supervisors to supplement the Courthouse Construction Fund, to be deposited in that fund and used solely for the purposes authorized for expenditures from that fund, including, but not limited to, earthquake retrofitting, renovation, and remodeling of all portions of the Central San Bernardino Courthouse in need of retrofitting, renovation, or remodeling, whether or not necessitated by the retrofitting work, including the original courthouse built in 1926 and all subsequent additions thereto. Expenditures made from the Courthouse Construction Fund that are funded from the surcharge shall be made in order of priority to ensure that all necessary earthquake retrofitting of the Central San Bernardino Courthouse will be completed. Collection of the surcharge authorized by this section shall terminate upon repayment of the amortized costs incurred, or 30 years from the sale of the bond, whichever occurs first. However, the surcharge shall not apply in instances in which no filing fee is charged or the filing fee is waived. If the amortized costs have been repaid, or 30 years have passed since the sale of the bond, the county shall notify in writing the superior court and the Judicial Council.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2039, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2039, deletes or extends that date.