44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO COURTS; PROVIDING FOR A MEDIATION PROGRAM IN MAGISTRATE COURT; CREATING A MAGISTRATE MEDIATION FUND; INCREASING FILING FEES; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 35-6-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 92, as amended) is amended to read:

"35-6-1. MAGISTRATE COSTS--SCHEDULE--DEFINITION OF

"CONVICTED".--

A. Magistrate judges, including metropolitan court judges, shall assess and collect and shall not waive, defer or suspend the following costs:

(1) docket fee, criminal actions under Section

29-5-1 NMSA 1978 $ 1.00;

(2) docket fee, to be collected prior to docketing any other criminal action, except as provided in Subsection B of Section 35-6-3 NMSA 1978 20.00.

Proceeds from this docket fee shall be transferred to the administrative office of the courts for deposit in the court facilities fund;

(3) docket fee, ten dollars ($10.00) of which shall be deposited in the court automation fund, to be collected prior to docketing any civil action, except as provided in Subsection A of Section 35-6-3 NMSA 1978 . .47.00;

(4) jury fee, to be collected from the party demanding trial by jury in any civil action at the time the demand is filed or made 25.00;

(5) copying fee, for making and certifying copies of any records in the court, for each page copied by photographic process .50.

Proceeds from this copying fee shall be transferred to the administrative office of the courts for deposit in the court facilities fund; and

(6) copying fee, for computer-generated or electronically transferred copies, per page 1.00.

Proceeds from this copying fee shall be transferred to the administrative office of the courts for deposit in the court automation fund. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, docket fees shall be paid into the court facilities fund.

B. Except as otherwise provided by law, no other costs or fees shall be charged or collected in the magistrate or metropolitan court.

C. The magistrate or metropolitan court may grant free process to any party in any civil proceeding or special statutory proceeding upon a proper showing of indigency. The magistrate or metropolitan court may deny free process if it finds that the complaint on its face does not state a cause of action.

D. As used in this subsection, "convicted" means the defendant has been found guilty of a criminal charge by the magistrate or metropolitan judge, either after trial, a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere. Magistrate judges, including metropolitan court judges, shall assess and collect and shall not waive, defer or suspend the following costs:

(1) corrections fee, to be collected upon conviction from persons convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code involving the operation of a motor vehicle, convicted of a crime constituting a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor or convicted of violating any ordinance that may be enforced by the imposition of a term of imprisonment

$10.00;

(2) court automation fee, to be collected upon conviction from persons convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code involving the operation of a motor vehicle, convicted of a crime constituting a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor or convicted of violating any ordinance that may be enforced by the imposition of a term of imprisonment

10.00;

(3) traffic safety fee, to be collected upon

conviction from persons convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code involving the operation of a motor vehicle 3.00;

(4) judicial education fee, to be collected upon conviction from persons convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, convicted of a crime constituting a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor or convicted of violating any ordinance punishable by a term of imprisonment 1.00;

(5) brain injury services fee, to be collected upon conviction from persons convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code involving the operation of a motor vehicle 5.00;

and

(6) court facilities fee, to be collected upon conviction from persons convicted of violating any provision of the Motor Vehicle Code involving the operation of a motor vehicle, convicted of a crime constituting a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor or convicted of violating any ordinance that may be enforced by the imposition of a term of imprisonment as follows:

in a county with a metropolitan court 14.00

in any other county 10.00.

E. Metropolitan court judges shall assess and collect [and shall not waive, defer or suspend] as costs, which shall not be waived, deferred or suspended, a mediation fee not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for the docketing of small claims and criminal actions specified by metropolitan court rule. Proceeds of the mediation fee shall be deposited into the metropolitan court mediation fund.

F. Magistrate judges shall assess and collect as costs, which shall not be waived, deferred or suspended, a mediation fee not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for the docketing of civil actions, except as provided in Subsection A of Section 35-6-3 NMSA 1978. Proceeds of the mediation fee shall be deposited in the magistrate court mediation fund."

Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] MAGISTRATE COURT MEDIATION FUND CREATED--ADMINISTRATION--DISTRIBUTION.--

A. The "magistrate court mediation fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the administrative office of the courts.

B. All balances in the magistrate court mediation fund are subject to appropriation for payment to magistrate courts for the purpose of funding and administering voluntary mediation programs. The mediation programs shall be established by supreme court rule for the efficient disposition of civil complaints.

C. Payments from the magistrate court mediation fund shall be made upon vouchers signed by the director of the administrative office of the courts upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration.

D. Any balance remaining in the magistrate court mediation fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.