S-4617               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6439

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen and Talmadge)

Read first time 2/2/88.

AN ACT Relating to courts; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The judicial council shall study the effects on the administration of justice of consolidating the district and municipal courts into a single-level court of limited jurisdiction.  The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following issues relating the consolidation of district and municipal courts:

          (a) The extent the duplication of limited jurisdiction court services, such as jury management, probation, and case management services, can be reduced or eliminated;

          (b) The level of consistency achievable through the application of uniform limited jurisdiction court rules and statutes;

          (c) The responsibility for court facilities and equipment;

          (d) District court locations and public accessibility to the courts;

          (e) A determination of the number of judges and support staff needed for consolidation;

          (f) An examination of the need for multicounty districts to achieve full-time courts;

          (g) The state assumption or partial assumption of district court judicial salaries and the financial impact of consolidation on the state, counties, and municipalities;

          (h) The authority for appointment of judges;

          (i) The distribution of revenue resulting from violations of ordinances;

          (j) The role of city traffic violation bureaus;

          (k) The impact on ancillary agencies, such as law enforcement, prosecution, and defense; and

          (l) An examination of concurrent jurisdiction between district and superior courts.

          (2) The judicial council shall report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the law and justice committee of the senate and the judiciary committee of the house of representatives by January 1, 1989.