Courts: fees.

The California Assembly Judiciary Committee proposes comprehensive changes to court record accessibility and fee structures through legislation that modifies how courts maintain and provide access to electronic records while implementing new oversight of court fees.

The measure requires courts to allow members of the public to view and duplicate electronic records using their own equipment without charge, provided the copying method does not physically contact the records or compromise court systems. Courts may impose reasonable limits to protect record safety and prevent disruption of court operations. The legislation maintains existing protections for specialized documents like court reporter transcripts and original wills.

Under the fee provisions, courts cannot charge more than their actual costs for services unless explicitly authorized by statute or Judicial Council approval. The Judicial Council must report to the Legislature by December 2027 on any fees that exceeded service costs in fiscal year 2026-27, including details on fee amounts, actual costs, revenue collected, and usage rates. Similar reports covering the following two fiscal years are due in 2028 and 2029. The reporting requirements create a mechanism for identifying fees that may warrant adjustment to align with actual service delivery costs.