42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 37

in effect

42 Pa.C.S. § 3701 Pennsylvania Judicial Center (Reserved).

Cross References. Section 3701 is referred to in sections 504, 1724 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3702 General facilities and services furnished by Administrative Office.

The Administrative Office, either directly or where appropriate in the case of equipment, materials and supplies, through the Department of General Services, shall furnish all personnel of the system entitled thereto with all necessary accommodations, goods and services which are not required by statute to be furnished by another government unit. Nothing in this section shall be construed to shift the liability for furnishing any such necessary accommodations, goods and services to the Commonwealth and where it is necessary for the Administrative Office to furnish any such necessary accommodations, goods or services for which the Commonwealth is not liable the cost thereof shall be paid by the defaulting government unit. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days)

42 Pa.C.S. § 3703 Local chamber facilities.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts shall furnish for each judge of the appellate courts of this Commonwealth chamber facilities in the county in which such judge resides in conformity with general rules for such judge and the personal staff of such judge from funds annually appropriated by the General Assembly. (July 10, 1985, P.L.193, No.49, eff. 60 days) Cross References. Section 3703 is referred to in section 5303 of Title 71 (State Government).

42 Pa.C.S. § 3704 Local facilities for holding sessions of Statewide courts.

(a) General rule.--The City and County of Philadelphia and the County of Allegheny shall furnish the personnel of the appellate courts of this Commonwealth with such accommodations and facilities as may be required by order of the governing authority. (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to any county in which the Pennsylvania Judicial Center may be located. Pennsylvania Judicial Center. Section 24(c) of Act 142 of 1976 provided that, for the purposes of section 3704(b), the Pennsylvania Judicial Center shall not be deemed to be located in a county until the facilities specified in section 3704(a) are provided by the center.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3721 County judicial center or courthouse.

(a) General rule.--There shall be maintained at the county seat of each county a facility known as the county judicial center, which may be the existing county courthouse. The facility shall provide accommodations and supporting facilities and services for the following functions, agencies and units of or related to the unified judicial system: (1) One or more courtrooms for the holding of sessions of the court of common pleas of the district, including related conference and other facilities. (2) Chamber facilities for judges of the court of common pleas and their personal staff. (3) The office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of the district and the administrative staff of the court, including the offices of the prothonotary, clerk of the courts and clerk of the orphans' court division. (4) The district court administrator. (5) The county law library. (6) The offices of jury commissioners, register of wills, sheriff, district attorney and public defender. (7) The offices of the bar association of the county necessary for public services performed by the bar association. (8) In the City and County of Philadelphia, courtrooms, related conference and other facilities and chamber facilities for the minor judiciary. (9) Such other functions, agencies and units of or related to the unified judicial system as may be designated by the governing authority and approved by the governing body of the county. (b) Multisite locations.--The facilities of the county judicial center may be located either at a common site or at multiple sites, as required by local circumstances and conditions. (c) Child-care facilities.-- (1) A county judicial center or courthouse may provide a child-care facility for use by children whose parents or guardians are present at the county judicial center or courthouse for a court appearance or other matter related to any civil or criminal action where the person's presence has been requested or is necessary. The child-care facility must be located within or easily accessible to the county judicial center or courthouse. If the facilities of the county judicial center are located at multiple sites, each site may provide a child-care facility. (2) If a child-care facility is provided under paragraph (1): (i) The child-care facility shall be licensed and operated pursuant to Articles IX and X of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, and regulations of the Department of Public Welfare. (ii) In addition to any other court cost or filing fee authorized to be collected by law, an additional fee of $5 shall be charged and collected by the prothonotary, clerk of orphans' court and register of wills of the county or by any official designated to perform the functions thereof for the initiation of any civil action or legal proceeding. (iii) In addition to any other court cost or filing fee authorized to be collected by law, an additional fee of $5 shall be charged and collected by the clerk of courts of the county or by any official designated to perform the functions thereof for the initiation of any criminal proceeding for which a fee, charge or cost authorized on the effective date of this subsection and for which a conviction is obtained or guilty plea is entered. (3) The additional fees collected under paragraph (2) shall be deposited into a segregated fund established by the county for the purposes of providing for the start-up and daily operating costs, excluding capital costs, of a child-care facility under this section. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 2000, P.L.742, No.105, eff. 60 days) 2000 Amendment. Act 105 added subsec. (c). References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014. The short title of the act of June 13, 1967, P.L.31, No.21, known as the Public Welfare Code, referred to in subsection (c), was amended by the act of December 28, 2015, P.L.500, No.92. The amended short title is now the Human Services Code. Cross References. Section 3721 is referred to in sections 1724, 2123 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3722 General facilities and services furnished by county.

Except as otherwise provided by statute, each county shall continue to furnish to the court of common pleas and community court embracing the county, to the minor judiciary established for the county and to all personnel of the system, including central staff entitled thereto, located within the county, all necessary accommodations, goods and services which by law have heretofore been furnished by the county. Cross References. Section 3722 is referred to in sections 2123, 2734, 2754, 2774, 3723 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3723 Other facilities and services furnished by Administrative Office.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3724 County law libraries.

County law libraries, including libraries maintained by bar associations or independent library corporations, or both, shall receive from the county such necessary funds, accommodations, goods and services, as shall be specified by general rules or orders adopted by the governing authority after consideration of the recommendations from time to time of the State Law Library. Any such general rules or orders shall take effect only in the manner provided by section 503(b) (relating to procedures). All such county law libraries shall be operated in conformity with general rules or rules of the court of common pleas of the judicial district embracing the county and shall be open to the general public. Philadelphia, Allegheny and Second Class A Counties. See section 24(d) of Act 142 of 1976 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to Philadelphia Law Library.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3725 Standards of local facilities and services.

All accommodations, goods and services furnished to personnel of the system by a county or any other government agency shall be furnished in conformity with general rules.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3726 Manner of expenditure of local funds.

Unless and until otherwise provided by statute or by express order of the Supreme Court pursuant to and subject to the limitations of constitutional authority, the manner of the expenditure of moneys credited to the judicial and related account of a political subdivision, including moneys appropriated through the budget of the Judicial Department to a political subdivision, shall be within the control of officers of the political subdivision. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days)

42 Pa.C.S. § 3727 Restriction on compelling local action.

A general rule, express order or other order in the nature of a regulation adopted by the governing authority or any other agency or unit of the system which relates to funds, accommodations, facilities, goods, services or supplies which by statute are required to be paid by a political subdivision shall not be effective as to such political subdivision unless the governing body of the political subdivision agrees thereto or is specifically required by statute to take the action or furnish the particular funds, accommodations, facilities, goods or services to which the general rule, express order or other order relates. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 added section 3727.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3731 Establishment of restricted receipt account.

There is hereby established within the General Fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account. Cross References. Section 3731 is referred to in section 3733 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3732 Utilization of funds in account.

(a) General rule.--Except for the repayments under subsection (b), all moneys deposited into the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account shall be used only for the initial startup and the ongoing operations of the Statewide judicial computer system. (b) General Fund repayments.--Any funds appropriated by the General Assembly from the General Fund for the startup and operation of the Statewide judicial computer system shall be repaid to the General Fund from the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account over a five-year period beginning 24 months after the initial appropriation from the General Fund.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3733 Deposits into account.

(a) General rule.-- (1) Beginning July 1, 1987, and thereafter, the total of all fines, fees and costs collected by any division of the unified judicial system which are in excess of the amount collected from such sources in the fiscal year 1986-1987 shall be deposited in the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account. Any fines, fees or costs which are allocated by law or otherwise directed to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, to the Pennsylvania Game Commission or to counties and municipalities, to the Crime Victim's Compensation Board, to the Commission on Crime and Delinquency for victim-witness services grants under section 477.15(c) of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, to rape crisis centers, to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund or to domestic violence shelters shall not be affected by this subchapter. (2) Beginning July 1, 1999, any fines, fees or costs which are allocated by law or otherwise directed to the Child Passenger Restraint Fund shall not be affected by this subchapter. (3) Beginning July 1, 2025, and notwithstanding section 3571 (relating to Commonwealth portion of fines, etc.) or this section, any costs charged by magisterial district judges under section 1725.1 (relating to costs) otherwise paid to the Commonwealth shall be deposited into the restricted account established in section 3731 (relating to establishment of restricted receipt account). Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the amount payable to counties under section 3572 (relating to county portion of fines, etc.). This paragraph shall expire June 30, 2028. (a.1) Additional fees.-- (1) In addition to the court costs and filing fees authorized to be collected by statute: (i) An additional fee of $10 shall be charged and collected by the prothonotaries of the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts for each initial filing for which a fee, charge or cost is now authorized. (ii) An additional fee of $10 shall be charged and collected by the prothonotaries, clerks of orphans' courts and registers of wills of all courts of common pleas, or by any officials designated to perform the functions thereof, for the initiation of any civil action or legal proceeding. (iii) An additional fee of $10 shall be charged by the clerks of courts of all courts of common pleas, or by any officials designated to perform the functions thereof, for the initiation of any criminal proceeding for which a fee, charge or cost is now authorized and a conviction is obtained or guilty plea is entered. The additional fee under this subparagraph shall also be charged and collected when a defendant is granted entry into Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or any other pretrial diversionary program. (iv) An additional fee of $10 shall be charged and collected by the minor judiciary, including magisterial district judges, Philadelphia Municipal Court, Philadelphia Traffic Court and Pittsburgh Municipal Court, for the initiation of a legal proceeding for which a fee or cost is now authorized, except that in criminal, summary and traffic matters the fee shall be charged only when a conviction is obtained or guilty plea is entered. The additional fee under this subparagraph shall also be charged and collected when a defendant is granted entry into Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or any other pretrial diversionary program. (v) An additional fee of $10 shall be charged and collected by the recorders of deeds and clerks of court, or by any officials designated to perform similar functions, for each filing of a deed, mortgage or property transfer for which a fee, charge or cost is now authorized. The Supreme Court shall designate by financial regulations which filings meet the criteria of this subparagraph. (2) The additional fees identified in paragraph (1) shall be fixed and charged for the fiscal years as indicated: (i) For the fiscal year 2002-2003, $9 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account, and $1 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Access to Justice Account under section 4904 (relating to establishment of Access to Justice Account). (ii) For the fiscal years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, $8.50 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account, and $1.50 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Access to Justice Account under section 4904. (iii) For the fiscal year 2005-2006 and each fiscal year thereafter, $8 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account, and $2 of each additional fee shall be deposited into the Access to Justice Account under section 4904. (3) The moneys charged and collected under this subsection shall be paid to the court imposing the fee, which shall transfer the moneys to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the appropriate account. For the purposes of paragraph (1)(v), the court shall be the court of common pleas. (b) Limitation on total amount in account.--(Deleted by amendment). (c) Expiration of section.--(Deleted by amendment). (June 29, 1990, P.L.257, No.59, eff. imd.; Mar. 19, 1992, P.L.18, No.7, eff. imd.; July 11, 1996, P.L.607, No.104, eff. imd.; June 25, 1997, P.L.321, No.32, eff. July 1, 1997; Oct. 12, 1999, P.L.420, No.38, eff. 60 days; Oct. 2, 2002, P.L.841, No.122, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days; Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.494, No.49, eff. 60 days; Feb. 4, 2026, P.L.1, No.1, eff. imd.) 2026 Amendment. Act 1 added subsec. (a)(3). Section 4 of Act 1 provided that the amendment or addition of sections 3532 and 3733(a)(3) shall apply retroactively to July 1, 2025. 2009 Amendment. Act 49 amended subsec. (a.1)(1)(iii), (iv) and (v). 2004 Amendment. See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law. 2002 Amendment. Act 122 amended subsec. (a.1). 1999 Amendment. Act 38 amended subsec. (a). Court Costs. See section 5 of Act 167 of 1992 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to commencement of compensation increases. References in Text. Section 477.15 of the act of April 9, 1929, P.L.177, No.175, known as The Administrative Code of 1929, referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by the act of November 11, 1998, P.L.882, No.111, known as the Crime Victims Act. The subject matter is now contained in Act 111 of 1998. The Traffic Court of Philadelphia, referred to in subsec. (a.1)(1)(iv), was abolished by Joint Resolution No.2 of 2016. Cross References. Section 3733 is referred to in section 3733.1 of this title; section 7511 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses); sections 1618, 3111, 3733 of Title 75 (Vehicles).

42 Pa.C.S. § 3733.1 Surcharge.

(a) Imposition of surcharge.--In addition to each fee imposed under section 3733(a.1) (relating to deposits into account), except as set forth in subsection (b), the following apply: (1) (Repealed). (2) (Repealed). (3) A permanent fee of $2 shall be charged and collected. (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a conviction or guilty plea based on the filing of a traffic citation charging an offense under 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles) which is classified as summary under a State statute or local ordinance as provided in the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. (c) Allocation and appropriation.-- (1) (Repealed). (2) (Repealed). (3) The fee under subsection (a)(3) shall be deposited into the Access to Justice Account. (Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.494, No.49, eff. 60 days; July 7, 2011, P.L. 207, No.30, eff. imd.; July 9, 2014, P.L.1004, No.113, eff. 30 days; Oct. 30, 2017, P.L.379, No.40, eff. imd.) 2017 Amendment. Act 40 repealed subsecs. (a)(1) and (2) and (c)(1) and (2). Amendment . Act 113 amended subsecs. (a) and (c). 2009 Amendment. Act 49 added section 3733.1. Cross References. Section 3733.1 is referred to in section 4908 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3733.2 Additional surcharge (Expired).

2022 Expiration. Section 3733.2 expired June 30, 2022. See Act 93 of 2021.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3734 Annual appropriations.

Beginning with the fiscal year 1987-1988, the General Assembly shall appropriate initially from the General Fund and thereafter from the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account funds sufficient to meet the costs of the initial startup and the ongoing operations of the Statewide judicial computer system.

42 Pa.C.S. § 3735 Review of plan and contracts.

A copy of the plan for expenditure of appropriated funds and a copy of each contract prior to execution shall be submitted to the respective Chairmen of the Majority and Minority Appropriations Committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate, allowing a reasonable time for their review and comment.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=42Fetched: 10/16/2026