Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 16.

This bill creates the court fee and tax advisory council, which will consist of the following 12 members:<br /> <br /> (1) One chancellor, one circuit court judge, and one criminal court judge, selected by a majority vote of the judges of the supreme court;<br /> (2) One general sessions court judge selected by a majority vote of the members of the board of governors of the Tennessee general sessions judges' conference; <br /> (3) One juvenile court judge selected by a majority vote of the executive committee of the Tennessee council of juvenile and family court judges; <br /> (4) The administrative director of the courts, who shall serve as an ex officio member; <br /> (5) Two attorneys licensed to practice law in Tennessee who have each practiced law at least three years in Tennessee, one of whom is selected by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom is selected by the speaker of the senate;<br /> (6) One clerk of a civil court and one clerk of a criminal court selected by the president of the state court clerks' conference; and<br /> (7) One member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one member of the senate, to be appointed by the speaker of the senate.<br /> <br /> The appointed members of the council will serve four-year terms. The council will meet monthly in Nashville when the general assembly is in session. The full text of this bill establishes some procedural and administrative requirements for the council.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the council to:<br /> <br /> (1) Consider and report in a timely manner to the members of the general assembly the council's recommendation concerning any pending legislation proposing the creation of a litigation tax or fee on any civil or criminal case; and<br /> (2) Compile an annual report, to be submitted to the members of the senate judiciary committee and the members of the criminal justice and civil justice committees of the house of representatives, on all the existing litigation taxes and fees that are imposed and the council's recommendations on whether each litigation tax or fee should continue.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the clerks of the senate and house of representatives to submit to the council for consideration any bills that propose a new litigation tax or fee or an increase in an existing litigation tax or fee, upon introduction of the bills. Any bills that are amended to propose a new litigation tax or fee or an increase in an existing litigation tax or fee must be submitted by the clerks to the council for consideration once the amendment is adopted by a standing committee.<br /> <br /> This bill requires members of the judicial branch of government, and all other state, county, and municipal officers to submit reports to the council, as it requests, of matters within the scope of the council's duties.<br /> <br />