HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2772

                      As Passed House:

                      February 8, 2000

Title:  An act relating to requiring new courts to report their establishment to the supreme court.

Brief Description:  Requiring new courts to report their establishment to the supreme court.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on  (originally sponsored by Representatives Hurst, Constantine, Lambert and Edwards).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Judiciary:  2/3/00 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/8/00, 97-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Requires any city or town that establishes a new municipal court to report the creation of the court to the supreme court within 30 days.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Carrell, Republican Co-Chair; Constantine, Democratic Co-Chair; Hurst, Democratic Vice Chair; Lambert, Republican Vice Chair; Cox; Dickerson; Esser; Kastama; Lantz; Lovick; McDonald and Schindler.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:

Some municipal courts operate as departments of the county district courts.  Cities and towns, however, are also authorized to create their own municipal courts that operate independently of the district courts.  Municipal courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters arising out of municipal ordinances.

Summary of Bill:

Whenever a city or town creates a municipal court, notice of the establishment of the court must be sent to the supreme court within 30 days.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There is currently no official way to keep track of newly created courts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Judge Peter Lukevich, District and Municipal Court Judges Association.