CS/CS/HB 643 Summary

• Requires clerks to stamp all filed papers and electronic filings with date and time of submission, and prohibits removal of filed documents from clerk's control without court order

• Authorizes county recorders to remove court documents from Official Records pursuant to sealing or expunction orders

• Increases automatic refund threshold for clerk overpayments from $10 to $5, eliminating the written request requirement for refunds under the new threshold

• Requires property appraisers rather than clerks to provide property record cards to petitioners in property assessment hearings regardless of whether evidence exchange is initiated

• Exempts governmental entities from paying statutory fees when enforcing judgments for criminal costs and fines; grants public defenders access to juvenile official records; takes effect July 1, 2013