HB 5405 Summary

• Transfers the Clerks of the Court Trust Fund from the Justice Administrative Commission to the Department of Revenue, effective July 1, 2012

• Revises filing fee distributions in civil cases, reducing amounts to the Administrative Clerks of the Court Trust Fund from $5 to $3.50 and redirecting portions to the Department of Financial Services for clerk budget reviews

• Expands Legislative Budget Commission powers to review and approve budgets for the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation and individual clerk budgets

• Establishes new budget procedures limiting clerks to fund only court-related functions from fees and service charges, with requirements to increase fees to maximum amounts if revenues are insufficient to meet approved budgets

• Requires beginning July 1, 2012, clerks to remit one-third of monthly fines, fees, service charges, and court costs to the state (later transitioning to remit excess revenues to General Revenue Fund beginning January 1, 2013)