Sec. 14A.054.  COURT FEES, COURT COSTS, OTHER COSTS.  (a)  A court may order a civilly committed individual who has filed a claim to pay court fees, court costs, and other costs in accordance with this section and Section 14A.055.  The court clerk shall mail a copy of the court's order and a certified bill of costs to the office or facility under contract with the office, as appropriate.
(b)  On the court's order, the civilly committed individual shall pay an amount equal to the lesser of:
(1)  20 percent of the preceding six months' deposits to the individual's trust account; or
(2)  the total amount of court fees, court costs, and other costs.
(c)  In each month following the month in which payment is made under Subsection (b), the civilly committed individual shall pay an amount equal to the lesser of:
(1)  10 percent of that month's deposits to the trust account; or
(2)  the total amount of court fees, court costs, and other costs that remains unpaid.
(d)  Payments under Subsection (c) shall continue until the total amount of court fees, court costs, and other costs are paid or until the civilly committed individual is released from confinement.
(e)  On receipt of a copy of an order issued under Subsection (a), the office or facility under contract with the office shall withdraw money from the trust account in accordance with Subsections (b), (c), and (d).  The office or facility shall hold the money in a separate account and shall forward the money to the court clerk on the earlier of the following dates:
(1)  the date the total amount to be forwarded equals the total amount of court fees, court costs, and other costs that remains unpaid; or
(2)  the date the civilly committed individual is released.
 
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (S.B. 1180), Sec.1
 
(f)  The civilly committed individual shall file a certified copy of the individual's trust account statement with the court.  The statement must reflect the balance of the account at the time the claim is filed and activity in the account during the six months preceding the date on which the claim is filed.  The court may request the office to furnish the information required under this subsection.
 
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 351 (S.B. 1179), Sec. 10
 
(f)  The civilly committed individual shall file a certified copy of the individual's trust account statement with the court.  The statement must reflect the balance of the account at the time the claim is filed and activity in the account during the six months preceding the date on which the claim is filed.  The court may request the office to provide the information required under this subsection.
(g)  A civilly committed individual may authorize payment in addition to that required by this section.
(h)  The court may dismiss a claim if the civilly committed individual fails to pay fees and costs assessed under this section.
(i)  A civilly committed individual may not avoid the fees and costs assessed under this section by nonsuiting a party or by voluntarily dismissing the action.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (S.B. 1180), Sec. 1, eff. May 24, 2023.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 351 (S.B. 1179), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2023.