MN SF2588

County boards may establish a court security fee not to exceed $15, set annually on July 1, to be collected in district and conciliation courts for civil and criminal matters including petty misdemeanors.

Court administrators shall collect the fee from plaintiffs/petitioners at filing and from each defendant/respondent/intervenor at the time of their first appearance or filing.

Courts shall impose the fee on every person convicted of any felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor offense, but only once per case even if convicted of multiple offenses; fee is not imposed for petty misdemeanors without fines or fines paid without court appearance.

Collected fees must be used for court security purposes including equipment (metal detectors, surveillance systems, body armor, etc.) and personnel/training expenses, and cannot replace existing bailiff or facility budgets.

Effective August 1, 2012, for civil actions filed on or after that date and offenses committed on or after that date.