Pennsylvania Act 1998-164 — PROTHONOTARY FEE LAW - AMEND ESTABLISHMENT, MODIFICATION AND ADDITION OF FEES

Act text

PROTHONOTARY FEE LAW - AMEND ESTABLISHMENT, MODIFICATION AND ADDITION OF
                                   FEES
                 Act of Dec. 21, 1998, P.L. 1271, No. 164             Cl. 42
                             Session of 1998
                               No. 1998-164

     HB 1715

                                  AN ACT

     Amending the act of November 26, 1982 (P.L.744, No.203),
        entitled "An act to ascertain and appoint the fees to be
        received by the prothonotary of the court of common pleas of
        the Commonwealth in home rule counties or counties of the
        second class A and the third to eighth class; to provide the
        time of paying the same and to repeal certain acts,"
        providing for the establishment and modification of fees and
        for the imposition of an additional fee.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  The act of November 26, 1982 (P.L.744, No.203),
     referred to as the Prothonotary Fee Law, is amended by adding
     sections to read:
      Section 1.1.  Increasing existing fees.
        (a)  General rule.--In counties of the second class A and the
     third through eighth class, including home rule counties of the
     same class, the prothonotary may increase any fee or charge that
     exists as of the effective date of this section with the
     approval of the president judge. The amount of any increase may
     not be greater than the aggregate of the consumer price index
     from the month in which the fee was last established through
     June 1998.
        (b)  Periodic adjustment.--The amount of any fee or charge
     increased pursuant to subsection (a) may be increased every
     three years, provided that the amount of the increase may not be
     greater than the percentage of increase in the Consumer Price
     Index for Urban Workers for the immediate three years preceding
     the last increase in the fee or charge.
      Section 1.2.  Automation fee for prothonotary's office.
        In addition to any other fee authorized by law, an automation
     fee of not more than $5 may be charged and collected by the
     prothonotary of counties of the second class A and the third
     through eighth class, including home rule counties of the same
     class, for the initiation of any action or legal proceeding. The
     automation fee shall be deposited into a special prothonotary
     automation fund established in each county. Moneys in the
     special fund shall be used solely for the purpose of automation
     and continued automation update of the office of the
     prothonotary.
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 30 days.

     APPROVED--The 21st day of December, A. D. 1998.

     THOMAS J. RIDGE