BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to court commissioners; amending RCW 3.42.010, 3.42.020, 3.42.040, 3.46.020, 7.80.010, 26.04.050, and 46.63.040; and repealing RCW 3.42.030.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 3.42.010 and 1984 c 258 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When so authorized by the districting plan, one or more district court commissioners may be appointed in any district by the judges of the district. Each commissioner shall be a registered voter of the county in which the district or a portion thereof is located, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the appointing judges.

(2) When authorized by a city council, one or more municipal court commissioners may be appointed in any municipality by the municipal court judges. Each commissioner shall hold office at the pleasure of the appointing judges.

(3) Any person appointed as a commissioner authorized to hear or dispose of cases shall be a lawyer who is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Washington or ((~~who~~)) has passed the qualifying examination for lay judges ((~~as provided under RCW 3.34.060~~)).

Sec. 2. RCW 3.42.020 and 1984 c 258 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

Each ((~~district~~)) court commissioner shall have such power, authority, and jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters as the appointing judges possess ((~~and shall prescribe~~)) unless a written appointment shall prescribe a lesser power, authority, and jurisdiction.

Sec. 3. RCW 3.42.040 and 1984 c 258 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~District~~)) Court commissioners shall receive such compensation as the county legislative authority or city council shall provide.

Sec. 4. RCW 3.46.020 and 1987 c 3 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Each judge of a municipal department shall be a judge or commissioner of the district court in which the municipal department is situated. Such judge shall be designated as a municipal judge.

Sec. 5. RCW 7.80.010 and 1987 c 456 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All violations of state law, local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution designated as civil infractions may be heard and determined by a district court, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) Any municipal court has the authority to hear and determine pursuant to this chapter civil infractions that are established by municipal ordinance and that are committed within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

(3) Any city or town with a municipal court under chapter 3.50 RCW may contract with the county to have civil infractions that are established by city or town ordinance and that are committed within the city or town adjudicated by a district court.

(4) District and municipal court commissioners have the authority to hear and determine civil infractions pursuant to this chapter.

(5) Nothing in this chapter prevents any city, town, or county from hearing and determining civil infractions pursuant to its own system established by ordinance.

Sec. 6. RCW 26.04.050 and 1987 c 291 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The following named officers and persons, active or retired, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages, to wit: Justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges and commissioners of the superior courts, ((~~superior court commissioners,~~)) judges and commissioners of courts of limited jurisdiction as defined in RCW 3.02.010 or 35.20.010, and any regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest of any church or religious denomination((~~, and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction as defined in RCW 3.02.010~~)).

Sec. 7. RCW 46.63.040 and 1984 c 258 s 137 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All violations of state law, local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution designated as traffic infractions in RCW 46.63.020 may be heard and determined by a district court, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) Any municipal court has the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions pursuant to this chapter.

(3) Any city or town with a municipal court may contract with the county to have traffic infractions committed within the city or town adjudicated by a district court.

(4) District and municipal court commissioners have the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions pursuant to this chapter.

(5) The boards of regents of the state universities, and the boards of trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen State College have the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions under RCW 28B.10.560.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. RCW 3.42.030 and 1984 c 258 s 32 & 1961 c 299 s 33 are each repealed.