SECTION 1. There is hereby imposed a litigation tax on the privilege of litigating a civil or criminal action in the general sessions court of Fayette County. The litigation tax shall be levied on each case filed in the general sessions court in Fayette County in the amount of one dollar ($1.00), to be assessed and collected as part of the cost of the cause.
The term "case" shall include ex parte as well as adversary or contested proceedings.
SECTION 2. The litigation tax provided in Section 1 shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the cases are filed. The clerk shall be accountable for and shall pay over the revenue to the county Trustee quarterly, nor later than the tenth (10th) of the month immediately following the end of the quarter in which such collections are made.
SECTION 3. The Trustee shall deposit the taxes herein collected in the Fayette County General Fund. Provided, however, such taxes shall be subject to appropriations by the county legislative body for courthouse renovation or maintenance.
SECTION 4. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
SECTION 5. This Act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body of Fayette County before October 1, 1981. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the county legislative body and certified by him to the Secretary of State.
SECTION 6. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this Act, it shall be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 5.
Passed: May 20, 1981.