Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts - Fiscal 2020
Appropriated Fund 0573 – Judicial Fund

To receive one-half of judicial fees collected by 14 Courts of Appeals (Revenue Code 3711) and filing fee collected by District Courts (Revenue Code 3709). Money in the fund to be used only for court-related purposes for support of judicial branch of the state and for basic legal services to the indigent as provided by § 51.943, Government Code.

Defendants convicted of a felony pay $185, defendants convicted of a Class A or B misdemeanor pay $147 and defendants convicted of a nonjailable misdemeanor pay $62. This account receives 12.2667% of total collections (Local Gov. Code sec.133.102).

Receives the net amount of a civil penalty that is recovered in an action by the attorney general in any matter actionable under the Business & Commerce Code, after deducting amounts allocated to or retained by the attorney general as authorized by law. 

Receives 50% of settlements and penalties collected by district or county attorneys for civil liability cases involving the  sale or production of synthetic controlled substances. Revenue deposited to the Basic Civil Legal Services subaccount in GR Account 0573.

Judicial fees collected by the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal are deposited to the Supreme Court support account in the Judicial Fund and used for court-related purposes. The fee is not to exceed $50.

No more than $50 million per year may be credited to the fund for providing basic civil legal services to the indigent.

First appropriation by H.B. 27, 69th Leg., 2nd C.S.

$50 fee to subaccount by S.B. 1182, 80th Leg., R.S.

Attorney General civil penalty collection added by S.B. 2279, 81st Leg., R.S.

H.B 1445, 83rd Leg., R.S. increased cap from $10 million to $50 million.

Amended by H.B. 1079, 84th Leg., R.S.

Synthetic controlled substances penalties deposit to subaccount added by H.B. 2612, 85th Leg., R.S.

H.B. 2235, 86th Leg., R.S. changes the $50 million limit for providing basic civil legal services to the indigent from biennially to annually. 

Effective 01/01/2020, S.B. 346, 86th Leg., R.S. added percentage of court costs under Local Government Code sec. 133.102. S.B. 346 repealed child support and court management purpose.