HB-4737, As Passed Senate, September 23, 2003                               

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

    SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR                                                       

                                                                                

    HOUSE BILL NO. 4737                                                         

                                                                                

    (As amended on September 23, 2003)                                          

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Revised judicature act of 1961,"                                           

                                                                                

    by amending sections 880b, 2529, 2538, 4805, 5756, 8371, and 8731           

                                                                                

    (MCL 600.880b, 600.2529, 600.2538, 600.4805, 600.5756, 600.8371,            

                                                                                

    and 600.8731), sections 880b, 2529, 2538, 5756, and 8371 as                 

                                                                                

    amended by 2003 PA 138 and section 8731 as amended by 2003 PA               

                                                                                

    95.                                                                         

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 880b.  (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, after                  

                                                                                

2   the commencement of a civil action or proceeding in the probate             

                                                                                

3   court, a party filing a motion, petition, account, objection,               

                                                                                

4   <<   >> or claim shall pay a $20.00 motion fee to the probate               

                                                                                

5    register.

    <<(2) The probate register shall charge and collect a $15.00 service fee for each writ of garnishment, attachment, or execution or for each judgment debtor discovery subpoena issued.>>                                                    

                                                                                

6       <<(3)(2)>> A fee shall not be charged under this section in a               

                                                                                

7   guardianship or limited guardianship proceeding if the moving               

                                                                                


    House Bill No. 4737 as amended September 23, 2003                           

1   party is the subject of the proceeding.                                     

                                                                                

2       <<(4)(3)>> A fee shall not be charged under this section in a               

                                                                                

3   conservatorship proceeding if the moving party is the subject of            

                                                                                

4   the proceeding or, if the conservatorship is for a minor, for a             

                                                                                

5   motion to release restricted funds.                                         

                                                                                

6       <<(5)(4)>> A party is not required to pay a fee under this section          

                                                                                

7   if the party is the attorney general, department of treasury,               

                                                                                

8   family independence agency, state public administrator, or                  

                                                                                

9   administrator of veterans affairs of the United States veterans             

                                                                                

10  administration, or an agency of county government.                          

                                                                                

11      <<(6)(5)>> The probate register, on or before the fifth day of the          

                                                                                

12  month following the month in which fees are collected under this            

                                                                                

13  section, shall transmit to the county treasurer all fees                    

                                                                                

14  collected under this section during the preceding month.  Within            

                                                                                

15  15 days after receiving the fees, the county treasurer shall                

                                                                                

16  transmit 50% of each fee collected to the state treasurer for               

                                                                                

17  deposit in the state court fund created by section 151a and shall           

                                                                                

18  deposit the remaining 50% of each fee in the county general fund            

                                                                                

19  for use exclusively for expenses of the probate court, to be                

                                                                                

20  first applied toward expenses in adult guardianship proceedings             

                                                                                

21  of the independent evaluations, legal counsel, and periodic                 

                                                                                

22  review mandated by article 5 of the estates and protected                   

                                                                                

23  individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5101 to 700.5520.                    

                                                                                

24      Sec. 2529.  (1) In the circuit court, the following fees                    

                                                                                

25  shall be paid to the clerk of the court:                                    

                                                                                

26      (a) Before a civil action other than an action brought                      

                                                                                

27  exclusively under section 2950, 2950a, or 2950h to 2950m is                 


                                                                                

1   commenced, or before the filing of an application for                       

                                                                                

2   superintending control or for an extraordinary writ, except the             

                                                                                

3   writ of habeas corpus, the party bringing the action or filing              

                                                                                

4   the application shall pay the sum of $150.00.  The clerk at the             

                                                                                

5   end of each month shall transmit for each fee collected under               

                                                                                

6   this subdivision within the month $31.00 to the county treasurer            

                                                                                

7   and the balance of the filing fee to the state treasurer for                

                                                                                

8   deposit in the civil filing fee fund created in section 171.                

                                                                                

9       (b) Before the filing of a claim of appeal or motion for                    

                                                                                

10  leave to appeal from the district court, probate court, a                   

                                                                                

11  municipal court, or an administrative tribunal or agency, the sum           

                                                                                

12  of $150.00.  For each fee collected under this subdivision, the             

                                                                                

13  clerk shall transmit $31.00 to the county treasurer and the                 

                                                                                

14  balance of the fee to the state treasurer for deposit in the                

                                                                                

15  civil filing fee fund created in section 171.                               

                                                                                

16      (c) If a trial by jury is demanded, the party making the                    

                                                                                

17  demand at the time shall pay the sum of $85.00.  Failure to pay             

                                                                                

18  the fee at the time the demand is made constitutes a waiver of              

                                                                                

19  the right to a jury trial.  The sum shall be taxed in favor of              

                                                                                

20  the party paying the fee, in case the party recovers a judgment             

                                                                                

21  for costs.  For each fee collected under this subdivision, the              

                                                                                

22  clerk shall transmit $25.00 to the state treasurer for deposit in           

                                                                                

23  the juror compensation reimbursement fund created in section                

                                                                                

24  151d.                                                                       

                                                                                

25      (d) Before entry of a final judgment in an action for divorce               

                                                                                

26  or separate maintenance in which minor children are involved, or            

                                                                                

27  the entry of a final judgment in a child custody dispute                    


                                                                                

1   submitted to the circuit court as an original action, 1 of the              

                                                                                

2   following sums, which shall be deposited by the county treasurer            

                                                                                

3   as provided in section 2530:                                                

                                                                                

4                                                                                (i) If the matter was contested or uncontested and was not                          

                                                                                

5   submitted to domestic relations mediation or investigation by the           

                                                                                

6   friend of the court, $30.00.                                                

                                                                                

7       (ii) If the matter was contested or uncontested and was                      

                                                                                

8   submitted to domestic relations mediation, $50.00.                          

                                                                                

9       (iii) If the matter was contested or uncontested and the                     

                                                                                

10  office of the friend of the court conducted an investigation and            

                                                                                

11  made a recommendation to the court, $70.00.                                 

                                                                                

12      (e) Except as otherwise provided in this section, upon the                  

                                                                                

13  filing of a motion the sum of $20.00.  In conjunction with an               

                                                                                

14  action brought under section 2950 or 2950a, a motion fee shall              

                                                                                

15  not be collected for a motion to dismiss the petition, a motion             

                                                                                

16  to modify, rescind, or terminate a personal protection order, or            

                                                                                

17  a motion to show cause for a violation of a personal protection             

                                                                                

18  order.  A motion fee shall not be collected for a motion to                 

                                                                                

19  dismiss a proceeding to enforce a foreign protection order or a             

                                                                                

20  motion to show cause for a violation of a foreign protection                

                                                                                

21  order under sections 2950h to 2950m.  For each fee collected                

                                                                                

22  under this subdivision, the clerk shall transmit $10.00 to the              

                                                                                

23  state treasurer for deposit in the state court fund created by              

                                                                                

24  section 151a.                                                               

                                                                                

25      (f) For services under the direction of the court that are                  

                                                                                

26  not specifically provided for in this section relative to the               

                                                                                

27  receipt, safekeeping, or expending of money, or the purchasing,             


                                                                                

1   taking, or transferring of a security, or the collecting of                 

                                                                                

2   interest on a security, the clerk shall receive the allowance and           

                                                                                

3   compensation from the parties as the court may consider just and            

                                                                                

4   shall direct by court order, after notice to the parties to be              

                                                                                

5   charged.                                                                    

                                                                                

6       (g) Upon appeal to the court of appeals or the supreme court,               

                                                                                

7   the sum of $25.00.                                                          

                                                                                

8       (h) The sum of $15.00 as a service fee for each writ of                     

                                                                                

9   garnishment, attachment, execution, or judgment debtor discovery            

                                                                                

10  subpoena issued.                                                            

                                                                                

11      (2) The sums paid as provided in this section shall be held                 

                                                                                

12  to be in full for all clerk, entry, and judgment fees in an                 

                                                                                

13  action from the commencement of the action to and including the             

                                                                                

14  issuance and return of the execution or other final process, and            

                                                                                

15  are taxable as costs.                                                       

                                                                                

16      (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the fees                  

                                                                                

17  shall be paid over to the county treasurer as required by law.              

                                                                                

18      (4) The court shall order any of the fees prescribed in this                

                                                                                

19  section waived or suspended, in whole or in part, upon a showing            

                                                                                

20  by affidavit of indigency or inability to pay.                              

                                                                                

21      (5) The clerk of the circuit court shall prepare and submit                 

                                                                                

22  a court filing fee report to the executive secretary of the                 

                                                                                

23  Michigan judges retirement system created by the judges                     

                                                                                

24  retirement act of 1992, 1992 PA 234, MCL 38.2101 to 38.2670, at             

                                                                                

25  the same time the clerk of the circuit court transmits the                  

                                                                                

26  portion of the fees collected under this section to the executive           

                                                                                

27  secretary.                                                                  


                                                                                

1       Sec. 2538.  (1) For services provided that are not                          

                                                                                

2   reimbursable under the provisions of part D of title IV of the              

                                                                                

3   social security act, chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. 651 to            

                                                                                

4   655, 656 to 660, and 663 to 669b, every person required to make             

                                                                                

5   payments of support or maintenance to be collected by the friend            

                                                                                

6   of the court or the state disbursement unit shall pay a fee of              

                                                                                

7   $1.50 per month for every month or portion of a month that                  

                                                                                

8   support or maintenance is required to be paid.  The fee shall be            

                                                                                

9   paid monthly, quarterly, or semiannually as required by the                 

                                                                                

10  friend of the court.  The friend of the court shall provide                 

                                                                                

11  notice of the fee required by this section to the person ordered            

                                                                                

12  to pay the support and that the fee shall be paid monthly or as             

                                                                                

13  otherwise determined by the friend of the court.  The friend of             

                                                                                

14  the court or SDU shall transmit  25 cents of  each fee collected            

                                                                                

15  under this section as follows:                                              

                                                                                

16      (a) Twenty-five cents to the appropriate county treasurer                   

                                                                                

17  for deposit into the general fund of the county.  ,                         

                                                                                

18      (b) For fees assessed on or after October 1, 2003, 25 cents                 

                                                                                

19  to the state treasurer for deposit in the fund created in                   

                                                                                

20  subsection (3).  , and the balance                                          

                                                                                

21      (c) One dollar to the state treasurer for deposit in the                    

                                                                                

22  state court fund created in section 151a.                                   

                                                                                

23      (2) The department, the SDU, and each office of the friend of               

                                                                                

24  the court shall cooperate in the transition to the centralized              

                                                                                

25  receipt and disbursement of support and fees.  An office of the             

                                                                                

26  friend of the court shall continue to receive and disburse                  

                                                                                

27  support and fees through the transition, based on the schedule              


                                                                                

1   developed as required by section 6 of the office of child support           

                                                                                

2   act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.236, and modifications to that schedule           

                                                                                

3   as the department considers necessary.                                      

                                                                                

4       (3) An attorney general's operations fund is created within                 

                                                                                

5   the state treasury.  The state treasurer may receive money or               

                                                                                

6   other assets from any source for deposit into the fund.  The                

                                                                                

7   state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund.  The               

                                                                                

8   state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings              

                                                                                

9   from fund investments.  Money in the fund at the close of the               

                                                                                

10  fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the             

                                                                                

11  general fund.  The department of attorney general shall expend              

                                                                                

12  money from the fund, upon appropriation, for operational                    

                                                                                

13  purposes.                                                                   

                                                                                

14      (4) As used in this section, "state disbursement unit" or                   

                                                                                

15  "SDU" means the entity established in section 6 of the office of            

                                                                                

16  child support act, 1971 PA 174, MCL 400.236.                                

                                                                                

17      Sec. 4805.  Unless otherwise specially provided for by law,                 

                                                                                

18  if a penalty,  is  fee, or costs are incurred by any person and             

                                                                                

19  the act or omission for which the  same is  penalty, fee, or                

                                                                                

20  costs are imposed is not also a misdemeanor,  such  the penalty,            

                                                                                

21  fee, or costs may be recovered in  a civil action  the same                 

                                                                                

22  manner as civil judgments for money in the same court.                      

                                                                                

23      Sec. 5756.  (1) If the complaint is for the recovery of                     

                                                                                

24  possession of premises only, the fee for filing a proceeding                

                                                                                

25  under this chapter is $45.00.  Beginning October 1, 2005, the fee           

                                                                                

26  required under this subsection is $40.00.                                   

                                                                                

27      (2) If a claim for a money judgment is joined with a claim                  


                                                                                

1   for the recovery of possession of premises, the plaintiff shall             

                                                                                

2   pay a supplemental filing fee in the same amount as established             

                                                                                

3   by law for the filing of a claim for a money judgment in the same           

                                                                                

4   court.                                                                      

                                                                                

5       (3) Of each filing fee collected under this section, at the                 

                                                                                

6   end of each month, the clerk of the district court shall transmit           

                                                                                

7   $17.00 to the treasurer of the district funding unit in which the           

                                                                                

8   action was commenced, of which not less than $5.00 shall be used            

                                                                                

9   by the district funding unit to fund the operation of the                   

                                                                                

10  district court; and the balance to the state treasurer for                  

                                                                                

11  deposit in the civil filing fee fund created by section 171.                

                                                                                

12  Beginning October 1, 2005, the amount of each fee that the clerk            

                                                                                

13  shall transmit to the treasurer of the district funding unit is             

                                                                                

14  reduced to $12.00.                                                          

                                                                                

15      (4) At the end of each month, the clerk of the district court               

                                                                                

16  shall transmit each supplemental filing fee collected under this            

                                                                                

17  section in the same manner as a fee under section 8371 for the              

                                                                                

18  filing of a claim for money judgment for the same amount is                 

                                                                                

19  transmitted.                                                                

                                                                                

20      (5) The clerk of the district court shall prepare and submit                

                                                                                

21  a court filing fee report to the executive secretary of the                 

                                                                                

22  Michigan judges retirement system created by the judges                     

                                                                                

23  retirement act of 1992, 1992 PA 234, MCL 38.2101 to 38.2670, at             

                                                                                

24  the same time the clerk of the district court transmits the                 

                                                                                

25  portion of the fees collected under this section to the executive           

                                                                                

26  secretary.                                                                  

                                                                                

27      Sec. 8371.  (1) In the district court, the fees prescribed                  


                                                                                

1   in this section shall be paid to the clerk of the court.                    

                                                                                

2       (2) Before a civil action is commenced in the district court,               

                                                                                

3   the party commencing the action shall pay to the clerk the sum of           

                                                                                

4   $150.00 if the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000.00.  For               

                                                                                

5   each fee collected under this subsection, the clerk shall                   

                                                                                

6   transmit $31.00 to the treasurer of the district funding unit in            

                                                                                

7   which the action was commenced, and shall transmit the balance to           

                                                                                

8   the state treasurer for deposit in the civil filing fee fund                

                                                                                

9   created by section 171.                                                     

                                                                                

10      (3) Before a civil action is commenced in the district court,               

                                                                                

11  the party commencing the action shall pay to the clerk the sum of           

                                                                                

12  $65.00 if the amount in controversy exceeds $1,750.00 but does              

                                                                                

13  not exceed $10,000.00.  Beginning October 1, 2005, the fee                  

                                                                                

14  required under this subsection is $60.00.  For each fee collected           

                                                                                

15  under this subsection, the clerk shall transmit $23.00 to the               

                                                                                

16  treasurer of the district funding unit in which the action was              

                                                                                

17  commenced, of which not less than $5.00 shall be used by the                

                                                                                

18  district funding unit to fund the operation of the district                 

                                                                                

19  court; and shall transmit the balance to the state treasurer for            

                                                                                

20  deposit in the civil filing fee fund created by section  171.               

                                                                                

21  Beginning October 1, 2005, the amount of each fee that the clerk            

                                                                                

22  shall transmit to the treasurer of the district funding unit is             

                                                                                

23  reduced to $18.00.                                                          

                                                                                

24      (4) Before a civil action is commenced in the district court,               

                                                                                

25  the party commencing the action shall pay to the clerk the sum of           

                                                                                

26  $45.00 if the amount in controversy exceeds $600.00 but does not            

                                                                                

27  exceed $1,750.00.  Beginning October 1, 2005, the fee required              


                                                                                

1   under this subsection is $40.00.  For each fee collected under              

                                                                                

2   this subsection, the clerk shall transmit $17.00 to the treasurer           

                                                                                

3   of the district funding unit in which the action was commenced,             

                                                                                

4   of which not less than $5.00 shall be used by the district                  

                                                                                

5   funding unit to fund the operation of the district court; and               

                                                                                

6   shall transmit the balance to the state treasurer for deposit in            

                                                                                

7   the civil filing fee fund created by section  171.  Beginning               

                                                                                

8   October 1, 2005, the amount of each fee that the clerk shall                

                                                                                

9   transmit to the treasurer of the district funding unit is reduced           

                                                                                

10  to $12.00.                                                                  

                                                                                

11      (5) Before a civil action is commenced in the district court,               

                                                                                

12  the party commencing the action shall pay to the clerk the sum of           

                                                                                

13  $25.00 if the amount in controversy does not exceed $600.00.                

                                                                                

14  Beginning October 1, 2005, the fee required under this subsection           

                                                                                

15  is $20.00.  For each fee collected under this subsection, the               

                                                                                

16  clerk shall transmit $11.00 to the treasurer of the district                

                                                                                

17  funding unit in which the action was commenced, of which not less           

                                                                                

18  than $5.00 shall be used by the district funding unit to fund the           

                                                                                

19  operation of the district court; and shall transmit the balance             

                                                                                

20  to the state treasurer for deposit in the civil filing fee fund             

                                                                                

21  created by section 171.  Beginning October 1, 2005, the amount of           

                                                                                

22  each fee that the clerk shall transmit to the treasurer of the              

                                                                                

23  district funding unit is reduced to $6.00.                                  

                                                                                

24      (6) The judge shall order payment of any statutory fees                     

                                                                                

25  waived or suspended if the person subject to the fee is receiving           

                                                                                

26  public assistance or is determined by the court to be indigent.             

                                                                                

27      (7) Neither this state nor a political subdivision of this                  


                                                                                

1   state shall be required to pay a filing fee in a civil infraction           

                                                                                

2   action.                                                                     

                                                                                

3       (8) Except for civil actions filed for relief under chapter                 

                                                                                

4   43, 57, or 84, if a civil action is filed for relief other than             

                                                                                

5   money damages, the filing fee shall be equal to the filing fee in           

                                                                                

6   actions for money damages in excess of $1,750.00 but not in                 

                                                                                

7   excess of $10,000.00 as provided in subsection (3) and shall be             

                                                                                

8   transmitted in the same manner as a fee under subsection (3) is             

                                                                                

9   transmitted.  If a claim for money damages is joined with a claim           

                                                                                

10  for relief other than money damages, the plaintiff shall pay a              

                                                                                

11  supplemental filing fee in the same amount as required under                

                                                                                

12  subsections (2) to (5).                                                     

                                                                                

13      (9) If a trial by jury is demanded, the party making the                    

                                                                                

14  demand at the time shall pay the sum of $50.00.  Failure to pay             

                                                                                

15  the fee at the time the demand is made constitutes a waiver of              

                                                                                

16  the right to a jury trial.  The sum shall be taxed in favor of              

                                                                                

17  the party paying the fee, in case the party recovers a judgment             

                                                                                

18  for costs.  For each fee collected under this subsection, the               

                                                                                

19  clerk shall transmit $10.00 to the state treasurer for deposit in           

                                                                                

20  the juror compensation reimbursement fund created in section                

                                                                                

21  151d.                                                                       

                                                                                

22      (10) A sum of $20.00 shall be assessed for all motions filed                

                                                                                

23  in a civil action.  A motion fee shall not be assessed in a civil           

                                                                                

24  infraction action. For each fee collected under this subsection,            

                                                                                

25  the clerk shall transmit $10.00 to the state treasurer for                  

                                                                                

26  deposit in the state court fund created in section 151a and the             

                                                                                

27  balance shall be transmitted to the treasurer of the district               


                                                                                

1   funding unit for the district court in the district in which the            

                                                                                

2   action was commenced.                                                       

                                                                                

3       (11) The clerk of the district court shall prepare and                      

                                                                                

4   submit a court filing fee report to the executive secretary of              

                                                                                

5   the Michigan judges retirement system created by the judges                 

                                                                                

6   retirement act of 1992, 1992 PA 234, MCL 38.2101 to 38.2670, at             

                                                                                

7   the same time the clerk of the district court transmits the                 

                                                                                

8   portion of the fees collected under this section to the executive           

                                                                                

9   secretary.                                                                  

                                                                                

10      Sec. 8731.  (1) If a defendant does not pay a civil fine,                   

                                                                                

11  costs, or assessment or an installment ordered under section 8727           

                                                                                

12  within 30 days after the date on which payment is due under                 

                                                                                

13  section 8727 in a municipal civil infraction action brought for a           

                                                                                

14  violation involving the use or occupation of land or a building             

                                                                                

15  or other structure, the plaintiff may obtain a lien against the             

                                                                                

16  land, building, or structure involved in the violation by                   

                                                                                

17  recording a copy of the court order requiring payment of the                

                                                                                

18  fines, costs, and assessment with the register of deeds for the             

                                                                                

19  county in which the land, building, or structure is located.  The           

                                                                                

20  court order shall not be recorded unless a legal description of             

                                                                                

21  the property is incorporated in or attached to the court order.             

                                                                                

22  The lien is effective immediately upon recording of the court               

                                                                                

23  order with the register of deeds.                                           

                                                                                

24      (2) The court order recorded with the register of deeds shall               

                                                                                

25  constitute notice of the pendency of the lien.  In addition, a              

                                                                                

26  written notice of the lien shall be sent by the plaintiff by                

                                                                                

27  first-class mail to the owner of record of the land, building, or           


                                                                                

1   structure at the owner's last known address.                                

                                                                                

2       (3) The lien may be enforced and discharged by a county,                    

                                                                                

3   city, village, or township in the manner prescribed by its                  

                                                                                

4   charter, by the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1            

                                                                                

5   to 211.157, or by an ordinance duly passed by the governing body            

                                                                                

6   of the county, city, village, or township.  However, property is            

                                                                                

7   not subject to sale under  section 60 of  the general property              

                                                                                

8   tax act, 1893 PA 206,  MCL 211.60  MCL 211.1 to 211.157, for                

                                                                                

9   nonpayment of a civil fine, costs, or assessment or an                      

                                                                                

10  installment ordered under section 8727 unless the property is               

                                                                                

11  also subject to sale under  section 60 of  the general property             

                                                                                

12  tax act, 1893 PA 206,  MCL 211.60  MCL 211.1 to 211.157, for                

                                                                                

13  delinquent property taxes.                                                  

                                                                                

14      (4) A lien created under this section has priority over any                 

                                                                                

15  other lien unless 1 or more of the following apply:                         

                                                                                

16      (a) The other lien is a lien for taxes or special                           

                                                                                

17  assessments.                                                                

                                                                                

18      (b) The other lien is created before May 1, 1994.                           

                                                                                

19      (c) Federal law provides that the other lien has priority.                  

                                                                                

20      (d) The other lien is recorded before the lien under this                   

                                                                                

21  section is recorded.                                                        

                                                                                

22      (5) A political subdivision may institute an action in a                    

                                                                                

23  court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of the                   

                                                                                

24  judgment imposed by a court order for a municipal civil                     

                                                                                

25  infraction.  However, an attempt by a county, city, village, or             

                                                                                

26  township to collect the judgment by any process does not                    

                                                                                

27  invalidate or waive the lien upon the land, building, or                    


                                                                                

1   structure.                                                                  

                                                                                

2       (6) A lien provided for by this section shall not continue                  

                                                                                

3   for a period longer than 5 years after a copy of the court order            

                                                                                

4   imposing a fine, costs, or assessment is recorded, unless within            

                                                                                

5   that time an action to enforce the lien is commenced.                       

                                                                                

6       Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act takes effect                       

                                                                                

7   October 1, 2003.