District Court Docket Fees

Kansas established a uniform system of district court docket fees in 1974. These original docket fees were $35 for civil cases and varying amounts for criminal cases, depending upon the nature of the crime.

From 1984 to 1995, local law libraries were allowed to charge differing library fees in addition to statutorily set docket fees, which caused docket fees to be non-uniform.
In 1996, the Legislature passed legislation that returned docket fees to a uniform level and also added docket fees for filing post-divorce motions for changes in child custody, child support orders, or visitation. The 2006 Legislature passed legislation specifying only the Legislature can establish fees or moneys for court procedures, including docket fees, filing fees, or other fees related to access to court procedures.

The 2006 Legislature raised docket fees for four purposes: to provide additional funding for the State General Fund associated with an approved judicial branch salary increase, to provide an increase in funding for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Fund, to provide funding for the Kansas Judicial Council’s judicial performance evaluation process, and for the Child Exchange and Visitation Centers Fund.

The 2009 Legislature raised docket fees to provide funding for the first phase of a statewide non-judicial personnel salary adjustment and raised the docket fee in criminal cases by $1 to fund a $186,239 increase to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Training Fund.

The 2014 Legislature redirected docket fees from state agencies to the Judicial Branch starting in fiscal year (FY) 2014. Starting in FY 2015, docket fees were deposited in three places: the Judicial Council, the Electronic Filing Management Fund, and the Judicial Branch Docket Fee Fund. Through FY 2021, the Electronic Filing Management Fund will receive the first $3.1 million in clerk’s fees. From FY 2022 forward, that amount will be reduced to $1.5 million for annual maintenance and upkeep.

The Office of Judicial Administration collected $26.8 million in district court docket fees, surcharges, and miscellaneous revenue for the State Treasury in FY 2020.

Fines, penalties, and forfeitures. In FY 2020, the Judicial Branch collected $15.5 million in fines, penalties, and forfeitures. A portion of funds collected, 33.6 percent, is earmarked for assisting victims of crime, alcohol, and drug abuse programs; children’s services; and other law enforcement-related activities. The remainder is transferred to the State General Fund for general operations.
Other fees. In addition to docket fees, the Judicial Branch also imposes other fees and assessments on individuals who use the judicial system. The Judicial Branch collected $7.7 million in other fees and assessments in FY 2020. These fees support law enforcement-related activities within the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General, Board of Indigents’ Defense Services, and the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The 2009 Legislature authorized the Supreme Court to enact a new surcharge in FY 2009. The surcharge is approved annually by the Legislature. The 2011 Legislature increased the surcharge by 25.0 percent. The 2014 Legislature abolished the Surcharge Fund and directed all docket fees generated by the surcharge be deposited in the Docket Fee Fund. The 2019 Legislature extended the surcharge through FY 2025.

Name of Fund	Administering Authority	Percent of Fees	Revenue to Fund, FY 2020 Actual	Revenue to Fund, FY 2021 Estimate	Revenue to Fund, FY 2022 Estimate
DOCKET FEE DISTRIBUTION
Judicial Branch Docket Fee Fund	Chief Justice, Kansas Supreme Court	99.01%	$23,525,805	$23,779,116	$25,379,116
Judicial Council Fund	Judicial Council	0.99	183,372	185,684	185,684
Electronic Filing Management Fund	Chief Justice, Kansas Supreme Court	N/A	3,100,000	3,100,000	1,500,000
Subtotal – Docket Fee Distribution		100.00%	$26,809,177	$27,064,800	$27,064,800
FINES, PENALTIES, AND FORFEITURES
Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund	Attorney General	10.94%	$1,697,857	$1,697,857	$1,697,857
Crime Victim’s Assistance Fund	Attorney General	2.24	347,642	347,642	347,642
Community Alcoholism and Intoxication Programs Fund	Aging and Disability Services	2.75	426,792	426,792	426,792
Dept. of Corrections Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Fund	Department of Corrections	7.65	1,187,258	1,187,258	1,187,258
Boating Fee Fund	Wildlife, Parks and Tourism	0.16	24,832	24,832	24,832
Children’s Advocacy Center Fund	Attorney General	0.11	17,072	17,072	17,072
EMS Revolving Fund	Emergency Medical Services Board	2.28	353,850	353,850	353,850
Trauma Fund	Secretary of Health and Environment	2.28	353,850	353,850	353,850
Traffic Records Enhancement Fund	Department of Transportation	2.28	353,850	353,850	353,850
Criminal Justice Information Systems Line Fund	Kansas Bureau of Investigation	2.91	451,624	451,624	451,624
State General Fund	Kansas State Legislature	66.40%	$10,305,091	$10,305,091	$10,305,091
Subtotal – Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures		100.00%	$15,519,715	$15,519,715	$15,519,715
OTHER FEES AND ASSESSMENTS
State General Fund	Various	Fee	$227,187	$227,187	$227,187
Law Enforcement Training Center Fund	Various	Fee	1,980,977	1,980,977	1,980,977
Marriage License Fees	Various	Fee	792,990	792,990	792,990
Correctional Supervision Fund	Various	Fee	985,094	985,094	985,094
Drivers License Reinstatement Fees	Various	Fee	1,068,796	1,068,796	1,068,796
KBI-DNA Database Fees	Various	Fee	744,579	744,579	744,579
Community Corrections Supervision Fee Fund	Various	Fee	433,065	433,065	433,065
Indigent Defense Services Application Fee	Various	Fee	593,825	593,825	593,825
Indigent Defense Services Bond Forfeiture Fees	Various	Fee	580,164	580,164	580,164
Other (e.g., Law Library, Court Reporter, Interest)	Various	Fee	279,591	279,591	279,591
Subtotal – Other Fees and Assessments			$7,686,268	$7,686,268	$7,686,268
Total of All Docket Fees, Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Assessed			$50,015,160	$50,270,783	$50,270,783