CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [68070 - 68114.10]
( Chapter 1 added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 206. )
(a) Every court may make rules for its own government and the government of its officers not inconsistent with law or with the rules adopted and prescribed by the Judicial Council. These rules shall not:
(1) Impose any tax, charge, or penalty upon any legal proceeding, or for filing any pleading allowed by law.
(2) Give any allowance to any officer for services.
(b) The Judicial Council is encouraged to adopt rules to provide for uniformity in rules and procedures throughout all courts in a county and statewide. The subjects on which uniformity should be sought shall include, but are not limited to, (1) the form of papers, (2) limitations on the filing of papers, (3) rules relating to law and motion, and (4) requirements concerning documents to be filed at or prior to trial.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1004, Sec. 1.5. Effective January 1, 1999.)
(a) When a case is appealed, there shall be no communication direct or indirect between the judge or judicial officer who heard the case and any judge of the reviewing court concerning the facts or merits of the case.
(b) When a petition for an original writ names a court as a party, there shall be no communication direct or indirect between any judge hearing the writ and the judge or judicial officer of the court named as a party.
(c) The prohibitions of subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply to a written communication if
at the time the communication is transmitted all the parties are sent a copy.
(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 596.)
No rule adopted by a superior court shall take effect until January 1 or July 1, whichever comes first, following the 45th day after it has been filed with the Judicial Council and the clerk of the court, and made immediately available for public examination. The Judicial Council may establish, by rule, a procedure for exceptions to these effective dates.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 218, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)
Rules adopted by the Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, or a court of appeal shall take effect on a date to be fixed in the order of adoption. If no effective date is fixed, those rules shall take effect 60 days after their adoption. Rules adopted by a superior court shall take effect as provided in Section 68071.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 200. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) All furniture, furnishings, and equipment used solely by a trial court on June 30, 1997, shall become the property of the court unless the county is prohibited from transferring title by a contract, agreement, covenant, or other provision in the law.
(b) Any other furniture, furnishings, or equipment made available by the county or city and county for use by a court on June 30, 1997, shall continue to be made available to the court, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
court and the county or city and county.
(c) The court shall assume all responsibility for any furniture, furnishing, and equipment for which title is transferred to the court or that continues to be made available for use by a court pursuant to this section, including the fiscal responsibility for any rental or lease obligation, the repair, maintenance, and replacement of such furniture, furnishing, and equipment.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 850, Sec. 28. Effective January 1, 1998.)
Each court shall have a seal.
(Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 206.)
The seal of any superior court may be affixed by a seal press or stamp which will print or emboss a seal which will reproduce legibly under photographic methods.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 202. Effective January 1, 2003.)
The seal used by the Supreme Court abolished by the Constitution of 1879 shall be the seal of the Supreme Court provided for in this title. The Supreme Court may direct its clerk to provide two duplicates of the seal, each of which shall have the same effect as the original.
(Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 206.)
The seals of the superior courts shall:
(a) Be circular.
(b) Be not less than one and one-fourth inches in diameter.
(c) Have in the center any word, words, or design adopted by the judges of the superior court.
(d) Have inscribed around the central words or design “Superior Court of California, County of
[____],” inserting the name of the county.
The seal of any such court, which has been adopted before April 1, 1880, shall be the seal of such court until another is adopted.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 738, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2008.)
A court for which the necessary seal has not been provided, or the judges of that court, shall provide it. The expense shall be an item of court operations.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 149, Sec. 19. Effective January 1, 2004.)
The clerk of the court shall keep the seal of the court.
(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1417, Sec. 6.)
(a) A person who uses or allows to be used any reproduction or facsimile of the seal of the California Supreme Court, an appellate court, or a superior court in any campaign literature or mass mailing, as defined in Section 82041.5, with intent to deceive the voters, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) For purposes of this section, the use of a reproduction or facsimile of a seal in a manner that creates a misleading, erroneous, or false impression that the document is authorized by
a public official is evidence of intent to deceive.
(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 387, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2002.)
Before the Supreme Court, a court of appeal, or the appellate division of a superior court renders a decision in a proceeding other than a summary denial of a petition for an extraordinary writ, based upon an issue which was not proposed or briefed by any party to the proceeding, the court shall afford the parties an opportunity to present their views on the matter through supplemental briefing. If the court fails to afford that opportunity, a rehearing shall be ordered upon timely petition of any party.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 931, Sec. 224. Effective September 28, 1998.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, during the officer’s continuance in office, a court commissioner, judge, or court executive or administrative officer shall not practice law in any court of this state or act as attorney, agent, or solicitor in the prosecution of any claim or application for lands, pensions, patent rights, or other proceedings before any department of the state or general government or courts of the United States. As used in this section, the practice of law includes being in partnership or sharing fees, commissions, or expenses in the
practice of law with any person acting as an attorney in this state.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 204. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Each salaried officer of a superior court shall charge, collect, and promptly deposit the fees allowed in each case, as provided by law. No salaried officer who collects fees shall be required to accept coin in payment of those fees.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 470, Sec. 46. (AB 1529) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Each officer of a superior court authorized to collect money shall pay into the county treasury all money collected by that officer, or under the officer’s control, that is payable into the treasury in a timely manner, and shall remit fee, fine, and forfeiture data within 35 days after the end of the month in which they are collected to the county auditor and treasurer in the form they require. No officer who collects money as described in this section shall be required to accept payment in coin. If the county auditor finds that an officer of the court has failed to comply with the requirements for payment of moneys pursuant to this section or Section 68101, which directly results in the assessment of a financial penalty pursuant to Section 68085, the superior court that failed to comply
shall reimburse the county general fund in an amount equal to the actual penalty. With the approval of the treasurer as provided in Section 27080.1, each depositing officer may deposit directly into the treasurer’s active account all money payable into the county treasury. On and after January 1, 2006, this section does not apply to money collected under Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 70600) of Title 8 or fees and fines to which Section 68085.1 applies.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 470, Sec. 47. (AB 1529) Effective January 1, 2013.)
(a) If any money is deposited with the clerk or judge of any superior court pursuant to any action or proceeding in the court, or pursuant to any order, decree, or judgment of the court, or when any money is to be paid to the court to be held in trust pursuant to any provision of this title or the Code of Civil Procedure, that money shall be deposited as soon as practicable after the receipt thereof with the treasurer and a duplicate receipt of the treasurer for it shall be filed with the auditor. The certificate of
the auditor that a duplicate receipt has been filed is necessary before the clerk, judge, or party required to deposit the money is entitled to a discharge of the obligation imposed upon the clerk, judge, or party to make the deposit.
(b) If any money so deposited or paid is to be withdrawn or paid out, the order directing the payment or withdrawal shall require the auditor to draw a warrant for it and the treasurer to pay it.
(c) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) Money collected under Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 70600) on or after January 1, 2006.
(2) Fees and fines to which Section 68085.1 applies.
(3) Money deposited or held in a bank account established by the
Judicial Council under subdivision (a) of Section 77009.
(d) This section shall apply to money held in a court trust account in a county treasury on or after January 1, 2006. Commencing January 1, 2006, the Judicial Council may require that money held in a court trust account in a county treasury be deposited into an independent court bank account established under subdivision (a) of Section 77009.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 75, Sec. 99. Effective July 19, 2005. Operative January 1, 2006, by Sec. 156 of Ch. 75.)
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, any money, excluding restitution to victims, that has been deposited with a superior court, or that a superior court is holding in trust for the lawful owner, in a court bank account or in a court trust account in a county treasury, that remains unclaimed for three years shall become the property of the superior court if, after published notice pursuant to this section, the money is not claimed or no verified complaint is filed and served. After published notice pursuant to this section, if the money is not claimed or no verified complaint is filed and served, money representing restitution collected on behalf of victims that remains unclaimed for three years shall be deposited either into the State
Restitution Fund exclusively for the purposes of providing victim services or into the general fund of a county that administers a victim services program exclusively for the provision of victim services.
(b) At any time after the expiration of the three-year period specified in subdivision (a), the executive officer of the superior court may cause a notice to be published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the court is located. The notice shall state the amount of money, the fund in which it is held, and that it is proposed that the money will become the property of the court on a designated date not less than 45 days nor more than 60 days after the first publication of the notice.
(c) Before or after publication, a party of interest may file a claim with the court executive officer that shall include the
claimant’s name, address, amount of claim, the grounds on which the claim is founded, and any other information that may be required by the court executive officer. The claim shall be filed before the designated date on which unclaimed money becomes the property of the court as provided under subdivision (b), and the executive officer shall accept or reject that claim.
(d) If the superior court executive officer rejects the claim, or takes no action on the claim within 30 days after it is filed, the party that submitted the claim may file a verified complaint seeking to recover all, or a specified part, of the money in the court in the county in which the notice is published. The copy of the complaint and summons shall be served on the court executive officer. The court executive officer shall withhold the release of the portion of unclaimed money for which a court action has been filed as provided in this section until the court renders a
decision or the claim is settled. Any portion of the unclaimed money not covered by the verified complaint shall become the property of the court if no other claim or verified complaint has been filed regarding it within the time specified in this section. If the party that submitted the claim does not file a verified complaint within 30 days after the date that the court mailed notice that the claim was rejected or within 60 days after the claim was filed, the money shall become the property of the court.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (c) and (d), the court executive officer may release the unclaimed money to the depositor of the unclaimed money, or the depositor’s heir, beneficiary, or duly appointed representative, if the depositor or the depositor’s heir, beneficiary, or duly appointed representative claims the money before the date that the money becomes the property of the superior court, upon submitting proof satisfactory to the court
executive officer.
(f) If no claim is filed under subdivision (c) and the time for filing claims has expired, the money shall become the property of the court. If a claim or claims are filed with respect to a portion of the money, but not the remainder of the money, and the time for filing claims under subdivision (c) has expired, the remainder of the money shall become the property of the court.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the presiding judge may direct the transfer of any individual deposit of twenty dollars ($20) or less, or any amount if the name of the original depositor is unknown, that remains unclaimed for one year to the Trial Court Operations Fund without the need for publication of notice.
(h) The court executive officer may delegate the responsibilities provided in this
section to appropriate superior court staff.
(i) When any money deposited and held under this section becomes the property of a superior court, the presiding judge shall transfer it to the Trial Court Operations Fund.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 212, Sec. 9. (AB 2767) Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) (1) There is hereby established the Trial Court Trust Fund, the proceeds of which shall be apportioned for the purposes authorized in this section, including apportionment to the trial courts to fund trial court operations, as defined in Section 77003.
(2) The apportionment payments shall be made by the Controller. The final payment from the Trial Court Trust Fund for each fiscal year shall be made on or before August 31 of the subsequent fiscal year.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to promote statewide efficiency, the Judicial Council may authorize the direct payment or reimbursement or both of actual costs from the Trial Court Trust Fund or the
State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund to fund the costs of operating one or more trial courts upon the authorization of the participating courts. These paid or reimbursed costs may be for services provided to the court or courts by the Administrative Office of the Courts or payment for services or property of any kind contracted for by the court or courts or on behalf of the courts by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The amount of appropriations from the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund under this subdivision may not exceed 20 percent of the amount deposited in the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 77205. The direct payment or reimbursement of costs from the Trial Court Trust Fund may be supported by the reduction of a participating court’s allocation from the Trial Court Trust Fund to the extent that the court’s expenditures for the program are reduced and the court is supported by the expenditure. The
Judicial Council shall provide the affected trial courts with quarterly reports on expenditures from the Trial Court Trust Fund incurred as authorized by this subdivision. The Judicial Council shall establish procedures to provide for the administration of this paragraph in a way that promotes the effective, efficient, reliable, and accountable operation of the trial courts.
(B) As used in subparagraph (A), the term “costs of operating one or more trial courts” includes any expenses related to operation of the court or performance of its functions, including, but not limited to, statewide administrative and information technology infrastructure supporting the courts. The term “costs of operating one or more trial courts” is not restricted to items considered “court operations” pursuant to Section 77003, but is subject to policies, procedures, and criteria established by the Judicial Council, and may not include an item that is a cost that must
otherwise be paid by the county or city and county in which the court is located.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fees listed in subdivision (c) shall all be deposited upon collection in a special account in the county treasury, and transmitted monthly to the State Treasury for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(c) (1) Except as specified in subdivision (d), this section applies to all fees collected on or before December 31, 2005, pursuant to Sections 631.3, 116.230, and 403.060 of the Code of Civil Procedure and Sections 26820.4, 26823, 26826, 26826.01, 26827, 26827.4, 26830, 26832.1, 26833.1, 26835.1, 26836.1, 26837.1, 26838, 26850.1, 26851.1, 26852.1, 26853.1, 26855.4, 26862, 68086, 72055, 72056, 72056.01, and 72060.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
except as specified in subdivision (d) of this section and subdivision (a) of Section 68085.7, this section applies to all fees and fines collected on or before December 31, 2005, pursuant to Sections 116.390, 116.570, 116.760, 116.860, 177.5, 491.150, 704.750, 708.160, 724.100, 1134, 1161.2, and 1218 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 26824, 26828, 26829, 26834, and 72059 of the Government Code, and subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 166 of the Penal Code.
(3) If any of the fees provided for in this subdivision are partially waived by court order, and the fee is to be divided between the Trial Court Trust Fund and any other fund, the amount of the partial waiver shall be deducted from the amount to be distributed to each fund in the same proportion as the amount of each distribution bears to the total amount of the fee.
(d) This section does not apply to that portion of a filing fee collected pursuant to Section 26820.4, 26826, 26827, 72055, or 72056 that is allocated for dispute resolution pursuant to Section 470.3 of the Business and Professions Code, the county law library pursuant to Section 6320 of the Business and Professions Code, the Judges’ Retirement Fund pursuant to Section 26822.3, automated recordkeeping or conversion to micrographics pursuant to Sections 26863 and 68090.7, and courthouse financing pursuant to Section 70625. This section also does not apply to fees collected pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 27361.
(e) This section applies to all payments required to be made to the State Treasury by any county or city and county pursuant to Section 77201, 77201.1, or 77205.
(f) Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no agency may take action to change the amounts allocated to any of the funds described in subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d).
(g) The Judicial Council shall reimburse the Controller for the actual administrative costs that will be incurred under this section. Costs reimbursed under this section shall be determined on an annual basis in consultation with the Judicial Council.
(h) Any amounts required to be transmitted by a county or city and county to the state pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasury no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the fees were collected. This remittance shall be accompanied by a remittance advice identifying the collection month and the appropriate account in the Trial Court Trust Fund to which it is to be deposited. Any remittance that is not made by the county or city and county in accordance
with this section shall be considered delinquent, and subject to the interest and penalties specified in this section.
(i) Upon receipt of any delinquent payment required pursuant to this section, the Controller shall do the following:
(1) Calculate interest on the delinquent payment by multiplying the amount of the delinquent payment at a daily rate equivalent to the rate of return of money deposited in the Local Agency Investment Fund pursuant to Section 16429.1 from the date the payment was originally due to either 30 days after the date of the issuance by the Controller of the final audit report concerning the failure to pay or the date of payment by the entity responsible for the delinquent payment, whichever comes first.
(2) Calculate a penalty at a daily rate equivalent to
11/2 percent per month from the date 30 days after the date of the issuance by the Controller of the final audit report concerning the failure to pay.
(j) (1) Interest or penalty amounts calculated pursuant to subdivision (i) shall be paid by the county, city and county, or court to the Trial Court Trust Fund no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the interest or penalty was calculated. Payment shall be made by the entity responsible for the error or other action that caused the failure to pay, as determined by the Controller in notice given to that party by the Controller.
(2) Notwithstanding Section 77009, any interest or penalty on a delinquent payment that a court is required to make pursuant to this section and Section 24353 shall be
paid from the Trial Court Operations Fund for that court.
(3) The Controller may permit a county, city and county, or court to pay the interest or penalty amounts according to a payment schedule in the event of a large interest or penalty amount that causes a hardship to the paying entity.
(4) The party responsible for the error or other action that caused the failure to pay may include, but is not limited to, the party that collected the funds who is not the party responsible for remitting the funds to the Trial Court Trust Fund, if the collecting party failed or delayed in providing the remitting party with sufficient information needed by the remitting party to distribute the funds.
(k) The Trial Court Trust Fund shall be invested in the Surplus Money Investment Fund and all interest earned shall be allocated to
the Trial Court Trust Fund quarterly and shall be allocated among the courts in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (a).
(l) It is the intent of the Legislature that the revenues required to be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund be remitted as soon after collection by the courts as possible.
(m) Except for subdivisions (a) and (k), this section does not apply to fees and fines that are listed in subdivision (a) of Section 68085.1 that are collected on or after January 1, 2006.
(n) The changes made to subdivisions (i) and (j) of this section by Chapter 435 of the Statutes of 2007 apply to all delinquent payments for which no final audit has been issued by the Controller prior to January 1, 2008.
(o) The Judicial Council shall not
expend any of these funds on the system known as the Court Case Management System without consent from the Legislature, except for the maintenance and operation of Court Case Management System Version 2 and Version 3.
(p) This section or any other provision of law shall not be construed to authorize the Judicial Council to redirect funds from the Trial Court Trust Fund for any purpose other than for allocation to trial courts or as otherwise specifically appropriated by statute.
(q) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2013.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 57, Sec. 3. (AB 199) Effective June 30, 2022.)
(a) This section applies to all fees and fines that are collected on or after January 1, 2006, under all of the following:
(1) Sections 177.5, 209, 403.060, 491.150, 631.3, 683.150, 704.750, 708.160, 724.100, 1161.2, 1218, and 1993.2 of, subdivision (g) of Section 411.20 and subdivisions (c) and (g) of Section 411.21 of, subdivision (b) of Section 631 of, and Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 116.110) of Title 1 of Part 1 of, the Code of Civil Procedure.
(2) Section 3112 of the Family Code.
(3) Section 31622 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(4) Subdivision (d) of Section 6103.5, Sections 68086 and 68086.1, Sections 68926.1 and 69953.5, and Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 70600).
(5) Section 103470 of the Health and Safety Code.
(6) Subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 166 and Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code.
(7) Sections 1835, 1851.5, 7660, and 13201 of the Probate Code.
(8) Sections 14607.6 and 16373 of the Vehicle Code.
(9) Section 71386 of this code, Sections 304, 7851.5, and 9002 of the Family Code, and Section 1513.1 of the Probate Code, if the reimbursement is
for expenses incurred by the court.
(10) Section 3153 of the Family Code, if the amount is paid to the court for the cost of counsel appointed by the court to represent a child.
(b) On and after January 1, 2006, each superior court shall deposit all fees and fines listed in subdivision (a), as soon as practicable after collection and on a regular basis, into a bank account established for this purpose by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Upon direction of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the county shall deposit civil assessments under Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code and any other money it collects under the sections listed in subdivision (a) as soon as practicable after collection and on a regular basis into the bank account established for this purpose
and specified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The deposits shall be made as required by rules adopted by, and financial policies and procedures authorized by, the Judicial Council under subdivision (a) of Section 77206. Within 15 days after the end of the month in which the fees and fines are collected, each court, and each county that collects any fines or fees under subdivision (a), shall provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with a report of the fees by categories as specified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts and any court may agree upon a time period greater than 15 days, but in no case more than 30 days after the end of the month in which the fees and fines are collected. The fees and fines listed in subdivision (a) shall be distributed as provided in this section.
(c) (1) Within 45 calendar days after the end of the month in which the fees and fines listed in subdivision (a) are collected, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall make the following distributions:
(A) To the small claims advisory services, as described in subdivision (f) of Section 116.230 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(B) To dispute resolution programs, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 68085.3 and subdivision (b) of Section 68085.4.
(C) To the county law library funds, as described in Sections 116.230 and 116.760 of the Code of Civil Procedure, subdivision (b) of Section 68085.3, subdivision (b) of Section 68085.4, and Section 70621 of this code, and Section 14607.6 of the
Vehicle Code.
(D) To the courthouse construction funds in the Counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco, as described in Sections 70622, 70624, and 70625.
(E) Commencing July 1, 2011, to the Trial Court Trust Fund, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 70626, to be used by the
Judicial Council to implement and administer the civil representation pilot program under Section 68651.
(2) If any distribution under this subdivision is delinquent, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall add a penalty to the distribution as specified in subdivision (i).
(d) Within 45 calendar days after the end of the month in which the fees and fines listed in subdivision (a) are collected, the amounts remaining after the distributions in subdivision (c) shall be transmitted to the State Treasury for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund and other funds as required by law. This remittance shall be accompanied by a remittance advice identifying the collection month and the appropriate account in the Trial Court Trust Fund or other fund to which it is to be
deposited. Upon the receipt of any delinquent payment required under this subdivision, the Controller shall calculate a penalty as provided under subdivision (i).
(e) From the money transmitted to the State Treasury under subdivision (d), the Controller shall make deposits as follows:
(1) Into the Judges’ Retirement Fund and the Equal Access Fund, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 68085.3 and subdivision (c) of Section 68085.4.
(2) Into the Health Statistics Special Fund, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 70670 of this code and Section 103730 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) Into the Family Law Trust Fund, as described in Section 70674.
(4) Into the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 68085.3, subdivision (c) of Section 68085.4, subdivision (b) of Section 70657.5, and subdivision (e) of Section 70617.
(5) The remainder of the money shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(f) The amounts collected by each superior court under Section 116.232, subdivision (g) of Section 411.20, and subdivision (g) of Section 411.21 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 304, 3112, 3153, 7851.5, and 9002 of the Family Code, subdivision (d) of Section 6103.5, Sections 68926.1, 69953.5, 70627, 70631, 70640, 70661, 70678, and 71386 of this code, and Sections 1513.1, 1835, and 1851.5 of the Probate Code
shall be added to the monthly apportionment for that court under subdivision (a) of Section 68085.
(g) If any of the fees provided in subdivision (a) are partially waived by court order or otherwise reduced, and the fee is to be divided between the Trial Court Trust Fund and any other fund or account, the amount of the reduction shall be deducted from the amount to be distributed to each fund in the same proportion as the amount of each distribution bears to the total amount of the fee. If the fee is paid by installment payments, the amount distributed to each fund or account from each installment shall bear the same proportion to the installment payment as the full distribution to that fund or account does to the full fee. If a court collects a fee that was incurred before January 1, 2006, under a provision that was the predecessor to one
of the paragraphs contained in subdivision (a), the fee may be deposited as if it were collected under the paragraph of subdivision (a) that corresponds to the predecessor of that paragraph and distributed in prorated amounts to each fund or account to which the fee in subdivision (a) must be distributed.
(h) Except as provided in Sections 470.5 and 6322.1 of the Business and Professions Code, and Sections 70622, 70624, and 70625 of this code, an agency shall not take action to change the amounts allocated to any of the funds described in subdivision (c), (d), or (e).
(i) The amount of the penalty on any delinquent payment under subdivision (c) or (d) shall be calculated by multiplying the amount of the delinquent payment at a daily rate equivalent to
11/2 percent per month for the number of days the payment is delinquent. The penalty shall be paid from the Trial Court Trust Fund. Penalties on delinquent payments under subdivision (d) shall be calculated only on the amounts to be distributed to the Trial Court Trust Fund and the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, and each penalty shall be distributed proportionately to the funds to which the delinquent payment was to be distributed.
(j) If a delinquent payment under subdivision (c) or (d) results from a delinquency by a superior court under subdivision (b), the court shall reimburse the Trial Court Trust Fund for the amount of the penalty. Notwithstanding Section 77009, any penalty on a delinquent payment that a court is required to reimburse
pursuant to this section shall be paid from the court operations fund for that
court. The penalty shall be paid by the court to the Trial Court Trust Fund no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the penalty was calculated. If the penalty is not paid within the specified time, the Administrative Office of the Courts may reduce the amount of a subsequent monthly allocation to the court by the amount of the penalty on the delinquent payment.
(k) If a delinquent payment under subdivision (c) or (d) results from a delinquency by a county in transmitting fees and fines listed in subdivision (a) to the bank account established for this purpose, as described in subdivision (b), the county shall reimburse the Trial Court Trust Fund for the amount of the penalty. The penalty shall be paid by the county to the Trial Court Trust Fund no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the
penalty was calculated.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 851, Sec. 5. (SB 688) Effective January 1, 2023.)
(a) Notwithstanding Section 77201.1, commencing with the 2005-06 fiscal year, the amount of each county’s annual remittance to the Trial Court Trust Fund under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 77201.1 shall be reduced by the amount determined under this section. In the 2005–06 fiscal year, the remittance shall be reduced by one-half the amount determined in subdivision (b). In the 2006–07 fiscal year and thereafter, the remittance shall be reduced in each fiscal year by the full amount determined in
subdivision (b).
(b) The amount of the reduction under this section for each county shall be the actual receipts into the county general fund for retention by the county for civil fees under Sections 26823, 26827.4, 26830, 26832, 26832.1, 26833.1, 26835.1, 26836.1, 26837.1, 26838, 26850.1, 26851.1, 26852.1, 26853.1, 26855.4, and 72060 of this code and Section 116.230 of the Code of Civil Procedure for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. This reduction is intended to compensate the counties for the loss of the revenue, as measured by receipts for the 2003–04 fiscal year, that was allocated to them from these fees by statute before January 1, 2006.
(c) In each county, the superior court and the county shall exchange relevant information to determine the amount of reduction they believe is correct under subdivision (b) and jointly report it to the California State Association of
Counties (CSAC) and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on or before January 1, 2006. If the superior court and the county do not agree on the amount, the superior court and the county shall each report the amount it believes is correct to the CSAC and the AOC on or before January 1, 2006.
(d) The AOC and the CSAC shall agree on the amount of the reduction for each county on or before January 1, 2006. If a court or county disagrees with the amount agreed to by the AOC and the CSAC for that county, the court or county may appeal to the AOC and the CSAC for an adjustment. The CSAC and the AOC shall determine whether to make any requested adjustment.
(e) If the CSAC and the AOC do not agree on the amount of the reduction for a county, they may request a mutually agreed-upon third party to arbitrate and determine the amount. The amount shall be determined by March 1,
2006.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 75, Sec. 103. Effective July 19, 2005. Operative January 1, 2006, by Sec. 156 of Ch. 75.)
(a) Fees collected under Sections 70611, 70612, 70650, 70651, 70652, 70653, 70655, 70658, and 70670 shall be deposited in a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts for deposit of fees collected by the courts.
(b) For each three-hundred-fifty-five-dollar ($355) fee listed in subdivision (a), the Administrative Office of the Courts shall distribute specified amounts in each county as follows:
(1) To the county law library fund, the amount described in Sections 6321 and 6322.1 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) To the account to support dispute resolution programs, the amount described in Section
470.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) The remainder of the fees in subdivision (a) shall be transmitted monthly to the Treasurer for deposit. For each three-hundred-fifty-five-dollar ($355) fee listed in subdivision (a), the Controller shall make deposits as follows:
(1) To the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, as provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 70371) of Chapter 5.7, sixty-five dollars ($65), unless the fee is collected under Section 70658, in which case the amount distributed to that fund shall be two hundred five dollars ($205).
(2) To the Judges’ Retirement Fund, as established in Section 75100, two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50).
(3) To the Trial Court Trust Fund for use as part of the Equal Access Fund program administered by the Judicial Council, four dollars and eighty cents ($4.80).
(4) To the Trial Court Trust Fund, as provided in Section 68085.1, the remainder of the fee.
(d) If any of the fees listed in subdivision (a) are reduced or partially waived, the amount of the reduction or partial waiver shall be deducted from the amount to be distributed to each fund or account in the same proportion as the amount of each distribution bears to the total amount of the fee.
(e) As used in this section, “law library fund” includes a law library account described in Section 6320 of the Business and Professions Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 79, Sec. 4. (AB 143) Effective July 16, 2021.)
(a) Fees collected under Section 70616.5 shall be deposited in a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts for deposit of fees collected by the courts.
(b) For each one-thousand-dollar ($1,000) fee listed in subdivision (a), the Administrative Office of the Courts shall distribute specified amounts as follows:
(1) Five hundred dollars ($500) to the General Fund for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the California Commission on Disability Access.
(2) The remainder of the fee to the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(c) If any of the fees listed in subdivision (a) are reduced or partially waived, the amount of the reduction or partial waiver shall be deducted from the amount to be distributed to each fund in the same proportion as the amount each distribution bears to the total amount of the fee.
(d) No revenue collected pursuant to Section 70616.5 shall be used to supplant existing program funding of the California Commission on Disability Access.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 755, Sec. 7. (AB 1521) Effective October 10, 2015.)
(a) Fees collected under Sections 70613, 70614, 70621, 70654, and 70656 of this code, Section 103470 of the Health and Safety Code, and Section 7660 of the Probate Code shall be deposited in a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts for deposit of fees collected by the courts.
(b) For each three-hundred-thirty-dollar ($330) fee and each two-hundred-five-dollar ($205) fee listed in subdivision (a), the Administrative Office of the Courts shall distribute specified amounts in each county as follows:
(1) To the county law library fund, the amount described in Sections 6321 and 6322.1 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) To the account to support dispute resolution programs, the amount described in Section 470.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) The remainder of the fees in subdivision (a) shall be transmitted monthly to the Treasurer for deposit. For each three-hundred-thirty-dollar ($330) fee and each two-hundred-five-dollar ($205) fee listed in subdivision (a), the Controller shall make deposits as follows:
(1) To the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, as provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 70371) of Chapter 5.7, fifty dollars ($50) if the
fee is three hundred thirty dollars ($330), and forty dollars ($40) if the fee is two hundred five dollars ($205), except as otherwise provided in Section 6322.1 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) To the Judges’ Retirement Fund, as established in Section 75100, two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50).
(3) To the Trial Court Trust Fund for use as part of the Equal Access Fund program administered by the Judicial Council, four dollars and eighty cents ($4.80).
(4) To the Trial Court Trust Fund, as provided in
Section 68085.1, the remainder of the fee.
(d) If any of the fees listed in subdivision (a) are reduced or partially waived, the amount of the reduction or partial waiver shall be deducted from the amount to be distributed to each fund or account in the same proportion as the amount of each distribution bears to the total amount of the fee.
(e) As used in this section, “law library fund” includes a law library account described in Section 6320 of the Business and Professions Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 79, Sec. 5. (AB 143) Effective July 16, 2021.)
(a) There is hereby established the State Trial Court Operations Trust Fund. Upon the retirement of all bonded indebtedness that may be incurred in connection with trial court projects funded by the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, any moneys remaining in, or that would otherwise be payable into, the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, shall be transferred to the Controller for deposit into the State Trial
Court Operations Trust Fund.
(b) The proceeds of the State Trial Court Operations Trust Fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act, only for trial court operations as defined in Section 77003.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 79, Sec. 6. (AB 143) Effective July 16, 2021.)
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except subdivision (h) and Section 68085.6, the fees and fines collected pursuant to Sections 116.390, 116.570, 116.760, 116.860, 491.150, 704.750, 708.160, 724.100, 1134, and 1161.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 26824, 26828, 26829, 26834, and 72059 of the Government Code, and Section 1835 of the Probate Code, that are not part of a local revenue sharing agreement or practice shall be deposited in a special account in the county treasury and transmitted therefrom monthly to the
Controller for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except subdivision (h) and Section 68085.6, the fees and fines collected pursuant to Sections 26827.6, 26827.7, 26840.1, 26847, 26854, 26855.1, 26855.2, 26859, 27293, 71386, and 72061 of the Government Code, Section 103470 of the Health and Safety Code, Sections 1203.4 and 1203.45 of the Penal Code, Sections 2343, 7660, and 13201 of the Probate Code, and Section 14607.6 of the Vehicle Code, that are not subject to a local revenue sharing agreement or practice, shall be deposited in a special account in the county treasury.
(c) However, if a superior court incurs the cost or provides the services specified in subdivision (b), the fees and fines collected shall be transmitted from the special account in the county treasury monthly to the Controller for deposit in the Trial Court
Trust Fund.
(d) (1) Until July 1, 2005, each superior court and each county shall maintain the distribution of revenue from the fees specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) that is in effect pursuant to an agreement or practice that is in place at the time this section takes effect.
(2) In order to ensure that expenditures from revenue sharing agreements are consistent with Judicial Council fiscal and budgetary policy, the Administrative Director of the Courts shall review and approve all distribution of revenue agreements that are negotiated after the effective date of this section. If approval of an agreement negotiated after the effective date of this section is not granted, the director shall advise the court and county of the reasons for not granting approval and suggest modifications that will make the agreement consistent with the Judicial Council fiscal
and budgetary policies.
(e) The Administrative Office of the Courts and the California State Association of Counties shall jointly determine and administer on or after January 1, 2004, and on or after January 1, 2005, all of the following:
(1) The amount of revenue that was deposited in the Trial Court Trust Fund pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) during the calendar year that just ended.
(2) The difference between the amount specified in subdivision (c) and thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000).
(3) A county-by-county transfer of the amount specified in paragraph (2) to the Trial Court Trust Fund in two equal installments, on February 15 and May 15, in each fiscal year.
(4) Any
payment to correct for an overpayment or underpayment made for the 2003–04 fiscal year, shall be paid to the appropriate party on or before September 15, 2004. Any payment to correct for an overpayment or underpayment made for the 2004–05 fiscal year, shall be paid to the appropriate party on or before November 15, 2005.
(5) The sum of the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) may not exceed thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000), and shall be deposited in the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(6) Counties that have not paid amounts billed under this section for the 2003-04 or 2004-05 fiscal year shall pay the amounts still owing to the Trial Court Trust Fund on or before September 1, 2005. If payment is not received on or before September 1, 2005, it shall be considered delinquent and subject to the penalties set forth in Section 68085.
(7) Penalty amounts calculated under paragraph (6) shall be paid by the county or the city and county to the Trial Court Trust Fund no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the penalty was calculated.
(f) Each superior court and each county shall provide detailed quarterly reports of the revenues generated by the fees and fines specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), Sections 177.5 and 1218 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and Sections 166 and 1214.1 of the Penal Code. The reports shall include the total amount collected and retained by the court or county and the existing distribution of those fees.
(g) No other transfers of the fees and fines specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), Sections 177.5 and 1218 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and Sections 166 and 1214.1 of the Penal Code shall take effect prior
to July 1, 2005.
(h) This section does not apply to fees and fines specified in subdivisions (a), (b), and (f) that are collected on or after July 1, 2005.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter or make void the shift of responsibility for court funding from the counties to the state.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 74, Sec. 43. Effective July 19, 2005.)
(a) Commencing July 1, 2005, the counties’ obligation to remit to the Trial Court Trust Fund each fiscal year the difference between thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000) and the amount remitted to the Trial Court Trust Fund under Section 68085.5 shall expire. The counties thereafter shall be obligated to remit to the Trial Court Trust Fund the following amounts:
(1) In the 2005–06 fiscal year, twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
(2) In the 2006–07 fiscal year, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(3) In the 2007–08 fiscal year, ten million dollars ($10,000,000).
(4) In the 2008–09 fiscal year, five million dollars ($5,000,000).
(5) In the 2009–10 fiscal year and thereafter, the obligation shall expire.
(b) If the amounts remitted annually to the Trial Court Trust Fund, pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section, and the amendments made to Section 68085.5 of the Government Code and Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code by the act that added this section, are less than the differences between thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000) and the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a), no
additional state funds shall be appropriated to the courts to mitigate these revenue shortfalls.
(c) In the 2005–06 fiscal year, the amount described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be remitted to the Trial Court Trust Fund in two equal installments on February 15, 2006, and May 15, 2006. In each subsequent fiscal year, the amount described in subdivision (a) shall be remitted to the Trial Court Trust Fund in four equal installments, due on October 1, January 1, April 1, and May 1. Each county shall pay the installments from all available resources, including the county’s general fund.
(d) Any payment to correct for an overpayment or underpayment made in any fiscal year shall be paid to the appropriate party on or before November 15 of the subsequent fiscal year.
(e) All moneys required to be paid to the
Trial Court Trust Fund under this section shall be considered delinquent if not paid by the dates specified in this section, and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 68085.
(f) Penalty amounts calculated under subdivision (e) shall be paid by the county or the city and county to the Trial Court Trust Fund no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the penalty was calculated.
(g) The portion of the amount in subdivision (a) to be paid by each county shall be determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) with the following conditions:
(1) Any county that did not receive a reduction of county remittances for support of trial courts to compensate for loss of civil assessment revenue under Section 68085.7 shall not be
required to make any payments under this section.
(2) No county’s payment in any year, commencing in the 2005–06 fiscal year, shall be greater than 90 percent of the annual payment that county was required to pay toward the thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000) in subdivision (e) of Section 68085.5 as it read on January 1, 2004.
(3) The AOC and the CSAC shall determine the portion of the amounts in subdivision (a) to be paid by each county on or before October 31, 2005. If the AOC and the CSAC do not agree on the portions, they may request a mutually agreed-upon third party to arbitrate and determine the portion for each county. The portions shall be determined on or before December 31, 2005.
(h) On or before June 30, 2006, the AOC and the CSAC shall agree upon a methodology to determine whether the growth in
revenue to the Trial Court Trust Fund created by the transfer of revenues under this section and Section 68085.7 has significantly exceeded projected levels so that a reduction in the counties’ obligation under paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) should be recommended to the Legislature.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter or make void the shift of responsibility for court funding from the counties to the state.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 74, Sec. 44. Effective July 19, 2005.)
(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Section 68085.5 does not apply to the following fees and fines collected on or after July 1, 2005: any fees and fines specified in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 68085.5, Section 177.5 or 1218 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or Section 166 or 1214.1 of the Penal Code. Commencing July 1, 2005, and except as otherwise provided in subdivision (g), these fees and fines shall be distributed as provided by Section 68085, except that the fees listed in subdivision (b) of Section 68085.5 and the fee in Section 1835 of the Probate Code shall be distributed to the court or the county, whichever provided the
services for which the fee is charged or incurred the costs reimbursed by the fee.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, until January 1, 2006, upon direction of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the court and the county shall deposit the money each collects under the sections listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 68085 as soon as practicable after collection and on a regular basis into a bank account established for this purpose and specified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The deposits shall be made as required by rules adopted by and financial policies and procedures authorized by the Judicial Council under subdivision (a) of Section 77206 of the Government Code. Within 15 days after the end of the month in which the money is collected, the court and the county each shall provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with a report of the money it collects, as specified by the Administrative
Office of the Courts. The money shall be transmitted to the State Controller for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(3) Commencing January 1, 2006, and except as otherwise provided in subdivision (g), the fees and fines listed in Section 68085.5 shall be distributed as provided by Section 68085.1, or if no provision is made in Section 68085.1, as specified in the section that provides for the fee or fine. The fees in Sections 26840.1, 26847, 26854, 26855.1, 26855.2, and 27293 shall be distributed to the county.
(b) Commencing July 1, 2005, in each fiscal year, the amount of each county’s annual remittance to the state Trial Court Trust Fund under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 77201.1 shall be reduced by the amount
that the county received from civil assessments under Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code, after deducting the cost of collecting those civil assessments as defined in subdivision (f), in the 2003-04 fiscal year. The reduction provided by this subdivision for the 2005-06 fiscal year shall apply only to a county that transmits to the Trial Court Trust Fund any money received by the county between July 1, 2005, and the effective date of this section that would have been transmitted to the Trial Court Trust Fund pursuant to subdivision (a), and the amendments to Section 68085 of this code and Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code, if this section had been effective on July 1, 2005.
(c) The amount of the reduction under this section for each county shall be determined by agreement between the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC). Each county and each superior court shall exchange relevant factual
information to determine and jointly report to the AOC and the CSAC the total amount the county received from civil assessments for the 2003-04 fiscal year, both gross and net after costs, on or before August 31, 2005. If the court and the county do not agree on the amount, the court and the county shall each report the amount each believes is correct to the AOC and the CSAC on or before August 31, 2005.
(d) The AOC and the CSAC shall agree on the amount of the reduction for each county under this section on or before October 31, 2005. If a court or county disagrees with the amount agreed to by the AOC and the CSAC for that county, the court or county may appeal to the AOC and the CSAC for an adjustment. The AOC and the CSAC shall determine whether to make any requested adjustment.
(e) If the AOC and the CSAC do not agree on the amount of the reduction for a county, they may
request a mutually agreed-upon third party to arbitrate and determine the amount. The amount shall be determined on or before December 31, 2005.
(f) Guidelines of the Controller shall apply to the determination of revenues from civil assessments under Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code. The costs of collecting civil assessments applied in determining net civil assessments are only those costs used to collect those civil assessments.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, commencing July 1, 2022, any revenues from civil assessments imposed under Section 1214.1 of the Penal Code shall be distributed as provided under Sections 1214.1 and 1463.001 of the Penal Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 57, Sec. 5. (AB 199) Effective June 30, 2022.)
(a) On or before December 31, 2005, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) shall complete an initial review of the impact upon individual counties and courts of the changes in revenue distributions and payment obligations under Sections 68085.6, and 68085.7 for the purpose of correcting inequities that may result from these changes. The AOC and CSAC shall work with counties and courts to develop and implement procedures to correct inequities resulting from either the
implementation of these changes or any changes in the provision of services or benefits under any of the following circumstances:
(1) Institution of new civil assessment programs after the 2003-04 fiscal year.
(2) Substantial impacts on memoranda of understanding or other agreements that are existing or pending as of June 10, 2005, or practices in effect at that time, which agreements and practices contemplate the use of revenues transferred under the act that added this section.
(3) The demonstration by clear evidence that the information used as the basis for determining a reduction under Section 68085.7, or for determining a county’s obligation under Section 68085.6, results in an inequity, and that the inequity imposes an undue hardship on the court or county.
(b) Inequities may be corrected by one or more of the following mechanisms:
(1) Adjustment of the reduction under subdivision (b) of Section 68085.7.
(2) Adjustment of the amount of a county’s obligation under subdivision (a) of Section 68085.6.
(3) Adjustment of allocations to a trial court from the Trial Court Trust Fund under subdivision (a) of Section 68085.
(4) If necessary, with agreement of the court and county, adjustments of the rights and duties of the parties under memoranda of understanding or other agreements or practices.
The adjustments under paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, may be temporary or permanent. Adjustments under this section shall be made only with the mutual agreement of
the AOC and CSAC.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 705, Sec. 3. Effective October 7, 2005.)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law requiring a trial court or officer of a trial court to deposit money received by the court or officer into the county treasury or with the county treasurer, including but not limited to Sections 24353, 68085, 68085.5, and 68101 of this code and Section 1463.001 of the Penal Code, the court or officer, with the consent of the county and the Administrative Director of the Courts, may deposit all money required to be deposited into the county treasury or with the county treasurer into a bank account
established by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the county treasury. Money collected pursuant to Section 68085.1 of this code shall be deposited as provided in that section. The Judicial Council, with the consent of the county, may require the court and officer to deposit money into a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the county treasury.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 705, Sec. 4. Effective October 7, 2005. See similar section added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 706.)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law requiring a trial court or officer of a trial court to deposit money received by the court or officer into the county treasury or with the county treasurer, including, but not limited to, Sections 24353, 68085, 68085.5, and 68101 of this code and Section 1463.001 of the Penal
Code, the court or officer, with the consent of the county and the Administrative Director of the Courts, may deposit all money required to be deposited into the county treasury or with the county treasurer into a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the county treasury. Money collected pursuant to Section 68085.1 shall be deposited as provided in that section. The Judicial Council, with the consent of the county, may require the court and officer to deposit money into a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the county treasury.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 706, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2006.)
The following provisions apply in superior court:
(a) In addition to any other fee required in civil actions or cases:
(1) For each proceeding anticipated to last one hour or less, a fee of thirty dollars ($30) shall be charged for the reasonable cost of the court reporting services provided at the expense of the court by an official court reporter pursuant to Section 269 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(A) The fee shall be charged to the party, or parties if filing jointly, that filed the paper that resulted in the proceeding being scheduled. If no fee has been charged, and a party subsequently requests a court reporter, that party shall be charged the fee if
a reporter is to be provided by the court.
(B) All parties paying the fee shall deposit the fee with the clerk of the court as specified by the court, but not later than the conclusion of each day’s court session.
(C) The fee shall be charged once per case for all proceedings conducted within the same hour if the total time taken by those proceedings is one hour or less. If the total time taken exceeds one hour, the fee shall be charged and collected pursuant to paragraph (2).
(D) The fee shall be deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund and distributed back to the court from which the fee was collected on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
(E) The fee shall be refunded as soon as practicable to the remitting party or parties if no court reporting services
were provided.
(2) For each proceeding lasting more than one hour, a fee equal to the actual cost of providing that service shall be charged per one-half day of services to the parties, on a pro rata basis, for the services of an official court reporter on the first and each succeeding judicial day those services are provided pursuant to Section 269 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(A) All parties shall deposit their pro rata shares of these fees with the clerk of the court as specified by the court, but not later than the conclusion of each day’s court session.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “one-half day” means any period of judicial time, in excess of one hour, but not more than four hours, during either the morning or afternoon court session.
(b) The fee shall be waived for a person who has been granted a fee waiver under Section 68631.
(c) The costs for the services of the official court reporter shall be recoverable as taxable costs by the prevailing party as otherwise provided by law.
(d) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to ensure all of the following:
(1) That parties are given adequate and timely notice of the availability of an official court reporter.
(2) That if an official court reporter is not available, a party may arrange for, at the party’s expense, the presence of a certified shorthand reporter to serve as an official pro tempore reporter. At the arranging party’s request, the court shall appoint the certified shorthand reporter to be present in the courtroom
and serve as the official reporter pro tempore unless there is good cause shown for the court to refuse that appointment. The fees and charges of the certified shorthand reporter shall be recoverable as taxable costs by the prevailing party as otherwise provided by law.
(3) That if the services of an official pro tempore reporter are utilized pursuant to paragraph (2), no other charge shall be made to the parties.
(e) The fees collected pursuant to this section shall be used only to pay the cost for services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings.
(f) The Judicial Council shall report on or before February 1 of each year to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on the fees collected by courts pursuant to this section and Section 68086.1 and on the total amount spent for services of official court
reporters in civil proceedings statewide in the prior fiscal year.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 497, Sec. 1. (AB 2664) Effective January 1, 2019.)
(a) For each three-hundred-fifty-five-dollar ($355) fee collected under Section 70611, 70612, or 70670, thirty dollars ($30) of the amount distributed to the Trial Court Trust Fund shall be used for services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings.
(b) For each three-hundred-thirty-dollar ($330) fee collected under subdivision (a) of Section 70613 or subdivision (a) of Section 70614, thirty dollars ($30) of the amount distributed to the Trial Court Trust Fund shall
be used for services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, in approving the thirty-dollar ($30) distribution out of each filing fee listed in subdivisions (a) and (b), to continue an incentive to courts to use the services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings. However, nothing in this section shall affect the Judicial Council’s authority to allocate these revenues to replace reductions in the General Fund appropriation to the Trial Court Trust Fund.
(d) The portion of the distribution to the Trial Court Trust Fund to be used for services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be used only in trial courts that utilize the services of an official court reporter in civil proceedings.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 22, Sec. 2. Effective July 28, 2009.)
(a) The Judicial Council may provide by rule of court for racial, ethnic, and gender bias, and sexual harassment training and training for any other bias based on any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 for judges and subordinate judicial officers.
(b) (1) The Judicial Council may also develop training on implicit bias with respect to the characteristics listed or defined in Section 11135. The course shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) A survey of the social science on implicit bias, unconscious bias, and systemic implicit
bias, including the ways that bias affects institutional policies and practices.
(B) A discussion of the historical reasons for, and the present consequences of, the implicit biases that people hold based on the characteristics listed in Section 11135.
(C) Examples of how implicit bias affects the perceptions, judgments, and actions of judges, subordinate judicial officers, and other court staff, and how those perceptions, judgments, and actions result in unacceptable disparities in access to justice.
(D) The administration of implicit association tests to increase awareness of one’s unconscious biases based on the characteristics listed in Section 11135.
(E) Strategies for how to reduce the impact of implicit bias on parties before the court, members of the public, and court staff.
(F) Inquiry into how judges and subordinate judicial officers can counteract the effects of juror implicit bias on the outcome of cases.
(2) As of January 1, 2022, all court staff who are required, as part of their regular job duties, to interact with the public on matters before the court, shall complete two hours of any training program developed by the Judicial Council pursuant to this subdivision every two years.
(3) The Judicial Council may adopt a rule of court, effective January 1, 2021, to implement this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 418, Sec. 3. (AB 242) Effective January 1, 2020.)
Two years after judgment in any civil action or proceeding has become final the court may order any vouchers on file for the action or proceeding delivered to the person who filed them or to his attorney. If such person or his attorney cannot be located or fails after reasonable notice to obtain such vouchers, the court may order them destroyed by the clerk of the court.
(Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 206.)
(a) (1) The Legislature finds that the management of civil and criminal cases, including traffic cases, and the accounting for funds in the trial courts requires these courts to implement appropriate levels of administrative automation.
(2) The purpose of this section is to make a fund available for the development of automated administrative systems, including automated accounting, automated data collection through case management systems, and automated case-processing systems for the trial courts, together with funds to train operating personnel, and for the maintenance and enhancement of the systems. As used in this paragraph, “automated administrative
systems” does not include electronic reporting systems for use in a courtroom.
(3) Automated data collection shall provide the foundation for planning, research, and evaluation programs that are generated from within and outside of the judicial branch. This system shall be a resource to the courts, the Judicial Council and its committees, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Legislature, the Governor, and the public. During the developmental stage and prior to the implementation of the system, the Legislature shall make recommendations to the Judicial Council as to the breadth and level of detail of the data to be collected.
(b) Prior to making any other required distribution, the county treasurer shall transmit 2 percent of all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected in criminal cases, including, but not limited to, moneys collected pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing
with Section 76000) of Title 8 of this code, Section 13003 of the Fish and Game Code, Section 11502 of the Health and Safety Code, and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1427) of Title 11 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, into the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund established pursuant to Section 77209, to be used exclusively to pay the costs of automated systems for the trial courts, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). These systems shall meet Judicial Council performance standards, including production of reports as needed by the state, the counties, and local governmental entities.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 41, Sec. 21. (SB 1021) Effective June 27, 2012.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, the board of supervisors in each county may specify by ordinance the compensation and mileage for members of the grand jury in that county.
(Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1361.)
Court interpreters’ and translators’ fees or other compensation shall be paid:
(a) In criminal cases, by the court.
(b) In civil cases, by the litigants, in proportions as the court may direct, to be taxed and collected as other costs.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 212, Sec. 10. (AB 2767) Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is imperative that courts provide interpreters to all parties who require one, and that both the legislative and judicial branches of government continue in their joint commitment to carry out this shared goal.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 26806 or 68092, or any other law, a court may provide an interpreter in any civil action or proceeding at no cost to the parties, regardless of the income of the parties. However, until sufficient funds are appropriated to provide an interpreter to every party who needs one, interpreters shall initially be provided in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 756 of the
Evidence Code.
(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 721, Sec. 3. (AB 1657) Effective January 1, 2015.)
(a) A party requiring testimony before any court, tribunal, or arbiter in any civil action or proceeding from any expert witness, other than a party or employee of a party, who is either, (1) an expert described in subdivision (b) of Section 2034.210 of the Code of Civil Procedure, (2) a treating physician and surgeon or other treating health care practitioner who is to be asked to express an opinion during the action or proceeding, or (3) an architect, professional engineer, or licensed land surveyor who was
involved with the original project design or survey for which he or she is asked to express an opinion within his or her expertise and relevant to the action or proceeding, shall pay the reasonable and customary hourly or daily fee for the actual time consumed in the examination of that witness by any party attending the action or proceeding. The hourly or daily fee shall not exceed the fee charged the party who retained the expert except where the expert donated his or her services to a charitable or other nonprofit organization. A daily fee shall only be charged for a full day of attendance at a deposition or where the expert was required by the deposing party to be available for a full day and the expert necessarily had to forego all business he or she would have otherwise conducted that day but for the request that he or she be available all day for the scheduled deposition.
The party requiring the attendance shall either accompany the service of the subpoena or
notice with a tender of the expert’s fee based on the anticipated length of time the expert is required to remain at such place pursuant to the notice or subpoena or tender that fee at the required time of appearance. The expert’s fee shall be delivered to the attorney for the party designating the expert. If the appearance of the expert takes longer than anticipated, the party serving the subpoena or notice shall pay the balance of the expert’s fee within five days of receipt of an itemized statement from the expert. The party designating the expert is responsible for any fee charged by the expert for preparing for the testimony and for traveling to the place of the civil action or proceeding, as well as for any travel expenses of the expert, unless otherwise determined by the court.
(b) The service of a proper subpoena or notice accompanied by the tender of the expert witness fee described in subdivision (a) is effective to require the party
employing or retaining the expert to produce the expert for testimony. If the party serving the notice or subpoena fails to tender the expert’s fee under subdivision (a), the expert shall not be required to appear at that time unless the parties stipulate otherwise.
(c) If a party requiring the appearance by subpoena or notice of another party’s expert witness under this subdivision deems that the hourly or daily fee of that expert for providing testimony is unreasonable, that party may move for an order setting the compensation of that expert. This motion shall be accompanied by a declaration stating facts showing a reasonable and good faith attempt at an informal resolution of each issue presented by the motion. Notice of this motion shall also be given to the expert.
In any such attempt at an informal resolution, either the party or the expert shall provide the other with (A) proof of the ordinary
and customary fee actually charged and received by that expert for similar services provided outside the subject litigation, (B) the total number of times the presently demanded fee has ever been charged and received by that expert, and (C) the frequency and regularity with which the presently demanded fee has been charged and received by that expert within the two-year period preceding the hearing on the motion. Provisions (B) and (C) shall apply to actions filed after January 1, 1994.
In addition to any other facts or evidence, the expert or the party designating the expert shall provide, and the court’s determination as to the reasonableness of the fee shall be based upon, (1) proof of the ordinary and customary fee actually charged and received by that expert for similar services provided outside the subject litigation, (2) the total number of times the presently demanded fee has ever been charged and received by that expert, and (3) the frequency and regularity
with which the presently demanded and any other fee has been charged and received by that expert within the two-year period preceding the hearing on the motion. The court may also consider (4) the ordinary and customary fees charged by similar experts for similar services within the relevant community, and (5) any other factors the court deems necessary or appropriate to make its determination.
Upon a determination that the fee demanded by that expert is unreasonable, and based upon the evidence and factors considered, the court shall set the fee of the expert providing testimony.
(d) In the event the proceeding at which the expert witness has been notified his or her attendance is required is continued or canceled in advance of the time for which it is scheduled, such witness shall be notified of the continuance or cancellation by the party requiring his or her attendance by the quickest and most
reliable means of giving notice under the circumstances. In the event such party fails to give notice as required by this subdivision, then the expert witness shall be entitled to receive the compensation specified in subdivision (a) of this section, notwithstanding his or her failure to give any testimony.
(e) An express contract entered into between a person and the party requesting or requiring the person to testify, relating to compensation, shall be enforceable and shall prevail over the provisions of this section.
(f) The deposition of an expert witness is governed by Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 2034.010) of Title 4 of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 182, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005, by Sec. 64 of Ch. 182.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, witness’ fees for each day’s actual attendance, when legally required to attend a civil action or proceeding in the superior courts, are thirty-five dollars ($35) a day and mileage actually traveled, both ways, twenty cents ($0.20) a mile.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 207. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, witness’ fees for each day’s actual attendance, when legally required to attend before a grand jury, are twelve dollars ($12) a day and mileage for each mile actually traveled in attendance as such witness, one way only twenty cents ($0.20). Such per diem and mileage are discretionary and shall only be allowed upon a showing that the allowances are necessary for the expenses of the witness in attending. The court may disallow any fees to a witness unnecessarily subpoenaed.
(Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1061.)
Except as otherwise provided by law, witness’ fees for each day’s actual attendance, when legally required to attend, or if the witness attends voluntarily and is called to testify, before a coroner’s jury, are twelve dollars ($12) a day and mileage for each mile actually traveled in attendance as a witness, one way only, twenty cents ($0.20). That per diem and mileage shall be a county charge.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 62, Sec. 161. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) Any employee of a local agency who is obliged by a subpoena to attend a civil action or proceeding as a witness in litigation in a matter regarding an event or transaction that he or she perceived or investigated in the course of his or her duties, to which that local agency is not a party, shall receive the salary or other compensation to which he or she is normally entitled from that local agency during the time that he or she prepares for his or her response and appearance, during the time that he or she travels to and from the place where the court or other tribunal is located and while he or she is required to remain at that place pursuant to the subpoena. He or she shall also receive from that local agency the actual necessary and
reasonable traveling expenses he or she incurred in complying with the subpoena.
(b) The party at whose request the subpoena is issued shall reimburse the local agency for the full cost incurred by the local agency in paying the employee his or her salary or other compensation and traveling expenses as provided for in this section, for each day that the employee is required to remain in attendance pursuant to the subpoena. The amount of two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275), together with the subpoena, shall be tendered to that local agency for each day that the employee is required to remain in attendance pursuant to the subpoena.
(c) If the actual expenses should later prove to be less than the amount tendered, the excess of the amount tendered shall be refunded.
(d) If the actual expenses should later prove to
be more than the amount tendered, the difference shall be paid to the local agency by the party at whose request the subpoena was issued.
(e) If a court continues a proceeding on its own motion, no additional witness fee shall be required prior to the issuance of a subpoena or the making of any order directing the employee to appear on the date to which the proceeding is continued.
(f) As used in this section, “local agency” means a city, county, city and county, special district, redevelopment agency, or any other political subdivision of the state.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 170, Sec. 1. (AB 2727) Effective January 1, 2015.)
Witnesses in civil cases may demand the payment of their mileage and fees for one day, in advance, and when so demanded may not be compelled to attend until the allowances are paid except as hereinafter provided for employees of the Department of Justice who are peace officers or analysts in technical fields, peace officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer members of the State Fire Marshal’s Office, other state employees, trial court employees, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, marshals, deputy marshals, district attorney inspectors,
probation officers, building inspectors, firefighters, and city police officers. For the purposes of this section and Sections 68097.1 to 68097.10, inclusive, only, the term “peace officer of the California Highway Patrol” shall include those persons employed as vehicle inspection specialists by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the term “firefighter” has the definition provided in Section 50925, and a volunteer firefighter shall be deemed to be employed by the public entity for which he or she volunteers as a firefighter.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 449, Sec. 19. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) Whenever an employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s Office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, district attorney inspector, probation officer, building inspector, firefighter, or city police officer is required as a witness before any court or other tribunal in any civil action or proceeding in connection with a matter regarding an event or transaction
which he or she has perceived or investigated in the course of his or her duties, a subpoena requiring his or her attendance may be served by delivering a copy either to the person personally, or by delivering two copies to his or her immediate superior at the public entity by which he or she is employed or an agent designated by that immediate superior to receive that service.
(b) Whenever any other state employee or any employee of the trial courts is required as a witness before any court or other tribunal in any civil action or proceeding in connection with a matter, event, or transaction concerning which he or she has expertise gained in the course of his or her duties, a subpoena requiring his or her attendance may be served by delivering a copy either to the person personally or by delivering two copies to his or her immediate superior or agent designated by that immediate superior to receive that service.
(c) The attendance of any person described in subdivisions (a) and (b) may be required pursuant to this section only in accordance with Section 1989 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(d) As used in this section and in Sections 68097.2 and 68097.5, “tribunal” means any person or body before whom or which attendance of witnesses may be required by subpoena, including an arbitrator in arbitration proceedings.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 449, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) Any peace officer, as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, any firefighter, any state employee, any trial court employee, or any county employee, who is obliged by a subpoena issued pursuant to Section 68097.1 to attend as a witness, shall receive the salary or other compensation to which he or she is normally entitled from the public entity by which he or she is employed during the time that he or she travels to and from the place where the court or other tribunal is located and while he or she is required to remain at that place pursuant to the subpoena. He or she shall also receive from the public entity by which he or she is employed the actual necessary and reasonable
traveling expenses incurred by him or her in complying with the subpoena.
(b) The party at whose request the subpoena is issued shall reimburse the public entity for the full cost to the public entity incurred in paying the peace officer, firefighter, state employee, trial court employee, or specified county employee his or her salary or other compensation and traveling expenses as provided for in this section, for each day that the peace officer, firefighter, state employee, trial court employee, or specified county employee is required to remain in attendance pursuant to the subpoena. The amount of two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275), together with the subpoena, shall be tendered to the person accepting the subpoena for each day that the peace officer, firefighter, state employee, trial court employee, or specified county employee is required to remain in attendance pursuant to the subpoena.
(c) If the actual expenses should later prove to be less than the amount tendered, the excess of the amount tendered shall be refunded.
(d) If the actual expenses should later prove to be more than the amount deposited, the difference shall be paid to the public entity by the party at whose request the subpoena is issued.
(e) If a court continues a proceeding on its own motion, no additional witness fee shall be required prior to the issuance of a subpoena or the making of an order directing the peace officer, firefighter, state employee, or trial court employee to appear on the date to which the proceeding is continued.
(f) For the purposes of the payment of the salary or other compensation of a volunteer firefighter pursuant to subdivision (a), a volunteer
firefighter who is subpoenaed to appear as a witness in connection with a matter regarding an event or transaction that he or she has perceived or investigated in the course of his or her duties as a volunteer firefighter, shall be deemed to be entitled to reasonable compensation evidenced by the compensation paid to firefighters in jurisdictions with similar geographic and economic characteristics. However, the requirements of subdivision (a) and of this subdivision are not applicable if a volunteer firefighter will receive his or her regular salary or other compensation pursuant to the policy of his or her regular employer, for the periods during which compensation is required under subdivision (a).
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 377, Sec. 1. (AB 2612) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Whenever a member of the California Highway Patrol is not subject to a subpoena pursuant to Section 1989 of the Code of Civil Procedure, he may nevertheless be required to appear as a witness before any court located in this state, in any civil action or proceeding in connection with a matter regarding an event or transaction which he has perceived or investigated in the course of his duties, by a subpoena requiring his attendance. The subpoena may be served by delivering a copy (1) to the member personally or to his immediate superior or (2) during usual office hours, at least five days prior to the date of the member’s required attendance, to the person in charge of the
office of the California Highway Patrol where the member filed his report of the event or transaction.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 10.)
Any member of the California Highway Patrol who is obliged to appear pursuant to a subpoena issued under the provisions of Section 68097.3 as a witness, shall receive from the State the salary or other compensation to which he is normally entitled as a member of the patrol during the time that he travels to and from the place where the court is located and while he is required to remain at such place pursuant to such subpoena. He shall also receive from the State the actual necessary and reasonable traveling expenses incurred by him in complying with such subpoena.
The party at whose request a subpoena is issued pursuant to Section
68097.3 shall reimburse the State for the amount of the salary or other compensation to which the member of the California Highway Patrol involved is normally entitled from the State during the time that he travels to and from the place where the court is located and while he is required to remain at such place pursuant to such subpoena; and in addition, such party shall reimburse the State for the actual, necessary and reasonable traveling expenses incurred by the member of the California Highway Patrol in complying with such subpoena. An amount equal to the estimated amount of such salary or other compensation and expenses shall be deposited with the clerk of the court prior to the issuance of such subpoena. If the actual amount of such salary or other compensation and expenses should later prove to be more than the amount deposited, the party shall also deposit the difference with the clerk. If the actual amount should later prove to be less than the amount deposited, the excess of the amount deposited
shall be refunded. All amounts received by the clerk to which the State is entitled shall be remitted to the Department of the California Highway Patrol for deposit in the State Treasury.
(Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1485.)
No employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer shall be ordered to return by the court for subsequent proceedings beyond the day stated in the subpoena referred to in Sections 68097.1, 68097.2, 68097.3 and 68097.4, or the day upon which the witness appeared pursuant to the provisions of Section 68097.9,
unless the party at whose request the subpoena was issued or the party at whose request the witness is ordered to return, shall first tender to the public entity by which the witness is employed the same sum required to be tendered for the issuance of a subpoena in the first instance.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 68097.5, the court, upon good cause shown, including the fact that the party is proceeding in forma pauperis pursuant to Section 68511.3, may relieve a party of the duty to make any deposit or payment, or portion thereof, required by Sections 68096.1, 68097.1, 68097.2, 68097.3, 68097.4, and 68097.5.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 93, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)
Sections 68097.1, 68097.2, 68097.3, 68097.4, and 68097.5 apply to subpoenas issued for the taking of depositions of employees of the Department of Justice who are peace officers or analysts in technical fields, peace officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer members of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, marshals, deputy marshals, firefighters, or city police officers pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2025.010) of Title 4 of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 294, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2006.)
Any person who pays or offers to pay any money or other form of consideration for the services of any employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer as a witness in any action or proceeding in connection with a matter regarding an event or transaction which he or she has perceived or investigated in the
course of his or her duties in any manner other than as provided in Sections 68097.1, 68097.2, 68097.3, 68097.4, 68097.5, and 68097.6 is guilty of a misdemeanor, and any employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer who asks or receives a payment except as provided in Sections 68097.2 and 68097.4 is likewise guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 38. Effective January 1, 1997.)
All deposits made pursuant to Sections 68097.2 or 68097.4 of this code, except such deposits as the party may be entitled to have refunded, shall be taxable as costs by the prevailing party.
(Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1485.)
An employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer who has been subpoenaed pursuant to Section 68097.1, 68097.3, or 68097.6, may, in lieu of attendance at the time specified in the subpoena, agree with the party at whose request the subpoena was issued to appear at another time or pursuant to notice as may be
agreed upon.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Whenever an employee of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer or an analyst in a technical field, peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, peace officer member of the State Fire Marshal’s office, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer appears as a witness pursuant to Section 68097.1 and reimbursement is not made as provided for in Section 68097.2, then the Department of Justice, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the State Fire Marshal’s office, or the public entity
employing the employee, sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, firefighter, or city police officer shall have standing to bring an action in order to recover the funds.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 40. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Witness’ fees in criminal cases in superior courts, other than fees for expert witnesses appointed by the court for the court’s needs pursuant to Section 730 of the Evidence Code, are charges against the same funds as grand jurors’ fees in criminal cases.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 470, Sec. 48. (AB 1529) Effective January 1, 2013.)
When the court is held at a place appointed, pursuant to Section 68115, every person held to appear at the court shall appear at the place so appointed.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 149, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) Whenever pursuant to law the state is entitled to receive any portion of any money, forfeited bail or fines received by a judge of any court, that portion shall as soon as practicable after the receipt thereof, be deposited with the county treasurer of the county in which that court is situated, and paid, by warrant of the county auditor drawn upon a requisition of the clerk or judge of the court, at least once a month to the Treasurer to be deposited in the State Treasury. Any remittance not made pursuant to
this section or Section 24353 shall be considered delinquent and subject to Section 68085.
(b) Any judge imposing or collecting those fines or forfeitures shall keep a record of them and at least monthly transmit a record thereof to the county auditor. The county auditor shall transmit a record of the imposition, collection and payment of such fines or forfeitures to the Controller at the time of transmittal of each warrant to the Treasurer pursuant to this section.
(c) Commencing January 1, 2006, this section does not apply to money collected under Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 70600) or fees and fines to which Section 68085.1 applies.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 75, Sec. 112. Effective July 19, 2005. Operative January 1, 2006, by Sec. 156 of Ch. 75.)
Whenever an imprisonment has been imposed for a violation of any act, and before the termination of the sentence, the defendant is released by the vacation of the sentence of imprisonment and the imposition of such fine or forfeiture in lieu thereof, such fine or forfeiture shall be recorded and accounted for in the same manner as though it had been imposed in the first instance.
Whenever such fine has been imposed for violation of any act, and before the full payment of it, a sentence of imprisonment is imposed in lieu thereof, such imprisonment shall be recorded and accounted for to the county auditor.
(Amended by Stats. 1953, Ch. 523.)
The State Controller shall check the reports and records received by him with the transmittals of such fines and forfeitures. Whenever it is apparent that such fines or forfeitures have not been transmitted, the county auditor shall and the State Controller may bring suit to enforce the collection or transmittal, or both.
The official bond of any judge is liable for his failure to transmit such fines or forfeitures imposed by him.
(Amended by Stats. 1953, Ch. 523.)
The records kept by any judge pursuant to Sections 68101 and 68102 shall be open to public inspection, and may be checked by the State Controller, the Attorney General, or the district attorney of the particular county.
(Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 206.)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Supreme Court, any court of appeal, or any superior court may appoint as an official phonographic reporter or as an official phonographic reporter pro tempore a person who has declared the intention to become a citizen and who is a certified shorthand reporter.
“A person who has declared the intention to become a citizen,” as used in this section, means a person who has either (1) filed the declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States,
or petition for naturalization, or comparable document prescribed by federal law or (2) filed an affidavit with the court, in the form prescribed by the court, that the person will, at the first opportunity at which the applicable federal law permits, file such a declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, petition for naturalization, or comparable document. If the court determines that an individual who has filed under alternative (2) of the preceding sentence, has, without good cause, failed at the first opportunity provided under federal law to file one of the specified documents prescribed by federal law, it shall forthwith revoke the appointment.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 209. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) (1) In making appropriations for the support of the trial courts, the Legislature recognizes the importance of increased revenues from litigants and lawyers, including increased revenues from civil filing fees. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that courts give the highest priority to keeping courtrooms open for civil and criminal proceedings. It is also the intent of the Legislature that, to the extent practicable, in the allocation of resources by and for trial courts, access to court services for civil litigants be preserved, budget cuts not fall disproportionately on civil cases, and the right to trial by jury be preserved.
(2) Furthermore, it is the intent of the Legislature in
enacting the Budget Act of 2010, which includes increases in civil and criminal court fees and penalties, that trial courts remain open to the public on all days except judicial holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and except as authorized pursuant to Section 68115.
(b) (1) A trial court shall provide written notification to the public by conspicuous posting within or about its facilities, on its public Internet Web site, and by electronic distribution to individuals who have subscribed to the court’s electronic distribution service, and to the Judicial Council, not less than 60 days prior to closing any courtroom, or closing or reducing the hours of clerks’ offices during regular business hours on any day except judicial holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and except as authorized pursuant to Section 68115. The notification shall include the scope of the closure or reduction in hours, and the financial constraints or other
reasons that make the closure or reduction necessary.
(2) (A) The notification required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include information on how the public may provide written comments during the 60-day period on the court’s plan for closing a courtroom, or closing or reducing the hours of clerks’ offices. The court shall review and consider all public comments received. If the court plan for closing a courtroom, or closing or reducing the hours of clerks’ offices, changes as a result of the comments received or for any other reason, the court shall immediately provide notice to the public by posting a revised notice within or about its facilities, on its public Internet Web site, and by electronic distribution to individuals who have subscribed to the court’s electronic distribution service, and to the Judicial Council. Any change in the court’s plan pursuant to this paragraph shall not require notification beyond the
initial 60-day period.
(B) This paragraph shall not be construed to obligate courts to provide responses to the comments received.
(3) Within 15 days of receipt of a notice from a trial court, the Judicial Council shall conspicuously post on its Internet Web site and provide the chairs and vice chairs of the Committees on Judiciary, the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Budget, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review a copy of any notice received pursuant to this subdivision. The Legislature intends to review the information obtained pursuant to this section to ensure that California trial courts remain open and accessible to the public.
(c) Nothing in this section is intended to affect, limit, or otherwise interfere with regular court management decisionmaking, including calendar
management and scheduling decisions.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 41, Sec. 22. (SB 1021) Effective June 27, 2012.)
(a) Any person shall have the right to obtain the following information under Rule 10.802 of the California Rules of Court:
(1) Baseline budget information that superior courts submit to the Administrative Office of the Courts after enactment of the annual Budget Act.
(2) Any other budget and expenditure document of the superior court pertaining to the
administrative operation of the court, including baseline budgets, quarterly financial statements, reports of revenues, reports of reserves, however classified, and their classification, and any document projecting or documenting savings due to unfilled positions and savings resulting from temporarily closing a court.
(3) Budgeted employee salary and benefit information by position classification consisting of the number of employees and compensation by classification, and any document, whether prepared periodically or for a special purpose, that shows any changes in salaried positions by classification available pursuant to subdivision (k) of Rule 10.802 of the California Rules of Court.
(4) Copies of executed contracts with outside vendors and payment information and policies concerning services provided by outside vendors without an executed contract. Any material provided
under this paragraph shall be redacted as necessary in accordance with subdivision (i) of Rule 10.802 of the California Rules of Court.
(5) Any final audit report.
(b) If the information requested pursuant to subdivision (a) has been certified by the superior court, copies of the certified documents shall be provided.
(c) The provisions of Rule 10.803 of the California Rules of Court shall apply to any petition arising under this section.
(d) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to information that is part of the deliberative process or adjudicative process unless that information is otherwise made public.
(e) Subdivision (a) shall only apply to information that has already been created or
prepared by, or in the possession of, the court, and does not require a court to produce or create any new document or data format to comply with its provisions. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent or limit a court from, in its discretion, producing or creating a new document or data format, or otherwise providing additional information.
(f) Nothing in subdivision (a) is intended to limit or restrict public access to other information that may be obtained under Rule 10.802 of the California Rules of Court. Nothing in this section is intended to limit or restrict public access to any information provided for by any statute, rule, or case law.
(g) The Judicial Council shall, on or before January 1, 2010, adopt rules of court that provide public access to nondeliberative or nonadjudicative court records, budget and management information.
(h) This section shall remain in effect until the rules of court providing public access to nondeliberative or nonadjudicative court records, budget and management information are adopted pursuant to subdivision (g).
(Added by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 22, Sec. 5. Effective July 28, 2009. Inoperative on or before January 1, 2010, pursuant to subds. (g) and (h).)
A court may order a criminal defendant upon whom a fine, forfeiture, or penalty is imposed, to disclose to the court his or her social security number in order to assist in its collection. That social security number is not a public record and shall not be disclosed except for collection purposes.
(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. Effective September 14, 1992.)
(a) To the extent that a memorandum of understanding for trial court employees designates certain days as unpaid furlough days for employees assigned to regular positions in the superior court, the court may not be in session on those days except as ordered by the presiding judge. On these furlough days, if the court clerk’s office is not open to the public, each court shall permit documents to be filed at a drop box pursuant to subdivision (b). If the court is not in session on a furlough day, an appropriate judicial officer shall be
available to conduct arraignments and examinations as required pursuant to Section 825 of the Penal Code, and to sign any necessary documents on an emergency basis.
(b) A drop box shall provide for an automated, official time and date stamping mechanism or other means of determining the actual date on which a document was deposited in the drop box.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 149, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) Every court of this state shall cooperate with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and place a deportation hold on any defendant convicted of a felony who is determined to be an undocumented immigrant subject to deportation.
(b) As used in this section, “cooperate” means to provide the DHS and its agents with access to all court records available to the public pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 and to provide any necessary paperwork within a reasonable time.
(c) As used in this section, “immigrant” means a person who is not a citizen or national of
the United States.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 77. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)
Every judge of a court of this state shall, in open court during the presentation of causes before him or her, wear a judicial robe, which the judge shall furnish at his or her own expense. The Judicial Council shall, by rule, prescribe the style of such robes.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 664, Sec. 125. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) Whenever any judge of any court of this state is a witness in an official capacity as judge in any action or proceeding, the judge shall be entitled to be represented at the action or proceeding by counsel of the judge’s choice, at the judge’s own expense.
(b) Representation of a judge at public expense is governed by the Government Claims Act (Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1), including, but not limited to, Section 995.9.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 478, Sec. 44. (AB 1756) Effective January 1, 2024.)
The coordination, consolidation, merger, or conversion of any court pursuant to this chapter or otherwise shall not of itself cause any reduction in judicial or nonjudicial court employee benefit programs provided or administered by the county pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 53200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, or pursuant to a memorandum or agreement in effect prior to the effective date of this section. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, the existing law. Any reduction or cessation of benefits contrary to
this section made between June 30, 1992, and the effective date of this section shall be restored.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 909, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1994.)
Notwithstanding Section 69906, in the Superior Court of San Bernardino County, the official court reporters shall be compensated at Step E of the range set forth in the San Bernardino County code for court reporters, unless determined otherwise by a majority of the judges of the superior court. Effective pay period one of each year, official court reporters will be credited with 160 hours of vacation leave time for the reporters’ immediate use. Official court reporters who are hired after the beginning of pay period one shall be credited with vacation leave hours
on a pro rata basis. Official court reporters who terminate after the beginning of pay period one shall reimburse the county for vacation time used in excess of the pro rata amount earned while employed during the year. Amounts reimbursable may be deducted from court reporter compensation which is payable after notice is given by the court reporter of termination. Official court reporters in regular positions budgeted less than 80 hours per pay period or in job-share positions shall receive vacation accumulation on a pro rata basis.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 954, Sec. 1.2. Effective January 1, 1996.)
Effective July 1, 2003, there is hereby established in the State Treasury the Judicial Branch Workers’ Compensation Fund for the purpose of funding workers’ compensation claims for judicial branch employees, including employees of the Administrative Office of the Courts, appellate courts, participating superior courts, Commission on Judicial Performance, and Habeas Corpus Resource Center. Contributions from participating judicial branch employers shall be credited to the fund. Income of whatever nature earned on the Judicial Branch Workers’ Compensation Fund
during any fiscal year shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal years. The fund shall be used by the Administrative Office of the Courts to pay workers’ compensation claims of judicial branch employees and administrative costs.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 905, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)