HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6562

BYSenators Craswell, Smitherman, Owen and Kreidler

Creating additional superior court positions in Kitsap and Thurston counties.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Forner, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (26)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Holland, Inslee, May, McLean, Padden, Peery, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Susan Nakagawa (786-7145)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 28, 1990

BACKGROUND:

By statute, the state Legislature determines the number of superior court judges in each county.  Currently, Thurston County is authorized five judges and Kitsap County is authorized five judges.

Periodically, the office of the Administrator for the Courts conducts a "weighted caseload" study of the superior courts in the counties.

Retirement system benefits and one-half of the salary of a superior court judge are paid by the state.  The other half of the judge's salary and all other costs associated with a judicial position, such as capital and support staff costs, are borne by the county.  A statute also requires that the county hire a court reporter for each superior court judge.

SUMMARY:

The number of superior court judges in Kitsap County is increased from five to seven and the number in Thurston County is increased to six.  One of the new positions for Kitsap County and the position for Thurston County are effective July 1, 1990.  The second position for Kitsap County takes effect not later than December 30, 1994.

The creation of the new positions is dependent upon the acceptance by the county legislative authority of the responsibility of paying for the county's share of the costs of the positions.

The new judicial positions created in both counties are exempted from the requirement that a court reporter be hired for each Superior Court judge.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.