Court fees: electronic filing.

Existing law authorizes the electronic service of documents in accordance with uniform rules adopted by the Judicial Council, as specified. Upon Judicial Council adoption of the uniform rules, existing law authorizes a superior court, by local rule, to require mandatory electronic filing and service of documents for specified civil actions in accordance with certain requirements including a requirement that any fees charged by the court do not exceed the actual cost of electronic filing and service of documents. This bill would add the additional requirement that a fee to process a payment that is charged by the court, an electronic filing manager, or an electronic filing service provider, does not exceed the actual costs incurred for processing the payment. The bill would require waiver of fees to process a payment if the court deems waiver appropriate. Existing law authorizes a court, subject to Judicial Council approval, to accept a credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer in payment of designated obligations, including filing fees and other court costs. Existing law authorizes a court, subject to Judicial Council approval, to impose a fee for the use of a credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer, not to exceed the costs incurred by the court in providing for payment by credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer. This bill would additionally authorize an agent of the court to impose a fee, subject to Judicial Council approval, for the use of a credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer, not to exceed the costs incurred by the court in providing for payment by credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer. For purposes of this provision, the bill would deem an electronic filing service provider who is required to collect and remit a filing fee or other court fee to complete an electronic filing transaction to be an agent of the court solely for that purpose, except as otherwise specified. The bill would require an agent of the court to report its costs in providing for payment by credit or debit card, or electronic funds transfer, as specified, and would require the agent to provide the Judicial Council, or its authorized representative, with access to examine the records and documents of the agency for purposes of verifying report accuracy and compliance with certain requirements. The bill would prohibit an electronic filing service provider from collecting or attempting to collect a fee to complete an electronic filing transaction from a party who is exempt from paying fees but would still require the electronic filing service provider to complete the filing. The bill would require a court, or certain electronic file managers, to accept more than one method of payment from an electronic filing service provider, as specified. Existing law also enumerates costs that a prevailing party may recover in a civil action. This bill would authorize a prevailing party to recover fees for the electronic filing or service of documents, or fees for the hosting of electronic documents, charged by an electronic filing service provider, if the court orders or requires electronic filing, service, or hosting of documents.