Sec. 22.2031. APPELLATE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

(a) The commissioners court of each county in the Second Court of Appeals District by order entered in its minutes may establish an appellate judicial system to:

(1) assist the court of appeals for the county in the processing of appeals filed with the court of appeals from the county courts, statutory county courts, probate courts, and district courts; and

(2) defray costs and expenses incurred by the county under Section 22.203.

(b) To fund the system, the commissioners court may set a court costs fee of not more than $5 for each civil suit filed in county court, statutory county court, probate court, or district court in the county.

(c) The court costs fee does not apply to a suit filed by the county or to a suit for delinquent taxes.

(d) The court costs fee shall be taxed, collected, and paid as other court costs in a suit. The clerk of the court shall collect the court costs fee set under this section and pay it to the county officer who performs the county treasurer's functions. That officer shall deposit the fee in a separate appellate justice system fund. The commissioners court shall establish and maintain the fund to assist the court of appeals district. The fund may not be used for any other purpose.

(e) The commissioners court shall annually order the funds collected under this section to be forwarded to the court of appeals for expenditure by the court of appeals for its judicial system.

(f) The commissioners court shall vest management of the system in the chief justice of the court of appeals. The commissioners court has the authority necessary to assist the court of appeals in the administration and management of the system and to contract with any private corporation, public corporation, or a combination of those corporations.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 93, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.