FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2522

                          C 49 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Modifying court jurisdiction.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lantz, McDonald, Constantine, Lambert, Dickerson, Barlean, Hurst and Carrell.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

Superior and district courts have concurrent jurisdiction over many kinds of civil cases.  For these kinds of cases parties may choose which court to use.

The district court jurisdiction statute enumerates several classes of cases that may be heard in district court. However, all of these are limited to actions in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $35,000.

This jurisdictional limit has been set over the past 40 years by the Legislature as follows:

  1961 - $500

  1965 - $1,000

  1979 - $3,000

  1981 - $7,500

  1984 - $10,000

  1991 - $25,000

  1997 - $35,000

Summary of Bill:

The dollar limit on the jurisdiction of district courts is raised from $35,000 to $50,000.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate370

Effective:June 8, 2000