Plain English Breakdown
The official text does not provide an effective date; the metadata lists 'Effective date:' as blank.
Courts: Limits on Fees and Access to Electronic Records
This law stops courts from charging more than the actual cost for services, requires new fee approvals by the Judicial Council, mandates reports when fees exceed costs, and lets people view or copy electronic court records at no charge using their own devices under specific conditions.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits courts from charging a fee that exceeds the cost to provide the service or product.
- Requires any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council.
- Mandates reports to the Legislature about court fees where revenue collected exceeded costs for specific fiscal years (2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29).
- Requires electronic court records maintained in that form to be viewable at the courthouse.
- Allows members of the public to request to view or duplicate accessible electronic records on the premises using their own equipment without being charged fees, provided no physical contact is made with the record and it does not risk damage or unauthorized access.
Who It Names or Affects
- Superior courts in California
- The Judicial Council of California
- Members of the public who request court records
Terms To Know
- Judicial Council
- A state body that helps manage and set rules for the courts.
- Fiscal year
- The time period used by government agencies to track money, such as July 1 to June 30.
Limits and Unknowns
- Courts may charge fees if they do not exceed the actual cost of providing the service.
- Courts can impose reasonable limits on using personal equipment to protect record safety or prevent unreasonable burdens.
- The official source material does not specify an effective date for this law.