HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6742

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse and Deccio)

Authorizing an additional superior court judge in Yakima county.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Armstrong, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Belcher, Brough, Hargrove, P. King, Lewis, Locke, Meyers, Moyer, Padden, Patrick, Schmidt, Scott,  Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass. (21)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Butterfield, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Yakima County Superior Court is currently authorized five judges.  Except for seven new judges authorized for King County in 1987, each judge in a county of more than 35,000 must appoint a court reporter.

A Washington Superior Court Weighted Caseload Study was conducted in 1976 by the National Center for State Courts.  An update of the weighted caseload study was performed in 1985, 1986 and 1987.  The results of these studies have been used to document the need for additional judicial positions.  These results indicate that Yakima County Superior Court's judicial position needs of 8.5 FTE's exceeds the current judicial staffing for the court by over 2.0 positions.

SUMMARY:

The maximum number of superior court judges authorized in Yakima County is increased by one judge for a total of six.  A stenographic reporter is not required to be appointed for the additional superior court judge.

The addition of the judicial position is conditioned upon the documentation by the legislative authority for Yakima County of its approval.  The county legislative authority must also agree that the expenses of the new judicial position shall be borne by the county.

The legislative authority for Yakima County has until January 1, 1990 to give its approval for the additional judicial position.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary) Walter Stauffacher, Yakima County Superior Court; Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary) Caseload study has shown that Yakima County is in the greatest need of a new judge.  The current overload is causing extreme delays.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.