3-1-317. User surcharge for court information technology -- exception. - Montana Statutes

     3-1-317. User surcharge for court information technology -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), all courts of original jurisdiction shall impose:
     (a) on a defendant in criminal cases, a $10 user surcharge upon conviction for any conduct made criminal by state statute or upon forfeiture of bond or bail;
     (b) on the initiating party in civil and probate cases, a $10 user surcharge at the commencement of each action, proceeding, or filing; and
     (c) on each defendant or respondent in civil cases, a $10 user surcharge upon appearance.
     (2) If a court determines that a defendant in a criminal case or determines pursuant to 25-10-404 that a party in a civil case is unable to pay the surcharge, the court may waive payment of the surcharge imposed by this section.
     (3) The surcharge imposed by this section is not a fee or fine and must be imposed in addition to other taxable court costs, fees, or fines. The surcharge may not be used in determining the jurisdiction of any court.
     (4) The amounts collected under this section must be forwarded to the department of revenue for deposit in the state general fund to be used for state funding of court information technology.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 361, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 257, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 498, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 445, L. 2005.