We will be introducing legislation to modernize and update county court automation fees to better reflect current operational costs and technological needs.
 
The first bill will increase the automation fee charged by Clerk of Courts for the initiation of any legal action or proceeding in counties of the Second-Class A through Eighth Class from $5 to $10. The bill allows the fee to be adjusted every three years based on inflation.
 
The second bill will increase the automation fee charged by Prothonotaries for the initiation of any civil action or legal proceeding in counties of the Second-Class A through Eighth Class from $5 to $10. The bill authorizes a fee adjustment every three years based on inflation.
 
The offices of County Prothonotary and County Clerk of Courts play a critical role in administering justice and maintaining the integrity of court records. As case management systems, electronic filing platforms, digital record retention, cybersecurity safeguards, and other technology-driven functions continue to expand in scope and complexity, sustainable funding for court automation has become essential to ensuring efficient, secure, and accessible court operations.

Both the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Association of Elected County Officials support these bills because they provide a modest, controlled increase to Clerk of Courts and Prothonotaries automation fees that help sustain essential County Court technology systems.
 
By limiting future adjustments to inflation and limiting how often fees may increase, the bills offer a fiscally responsible way to modernize court operations through user fees rather than shifting additional costs to county taxpayers. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

This is a re-circulation of a co-sponsorship memo from Senator Kane, and the forthcoming legislation will be a re-introduction of Senator Kane’s SB 1251 and SB 1252 from this session.