FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5327

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: Court clerks in each county perform specific duties in support of court activities including, but not limited to: keeping the case files and other records of the court; receiving court filings according to court rules; keeping a record of court proceedings; and conforming with the court's direction in performance of its responsibilities. Court clerks also must track and report certain court activities using forms developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) related to dissolution and child support matters. The Washington Association of County Officials works with county clerks to develop funding allocation for collecting legal financial obligations. Legal financial obligations are the fines, fees, and other penalties courts order litigants to pay the court clerk as part of the disposition of a court case. The Washington Association of County Officials must send a legislative report each year of the legal financial obligations each clerk collects.

Summary: County clerks must keep minutes of court proceedings instead of a journal of court proceedings. The clerk of the court is no longer required to forward monthly residential time summary reports to the Division of Child Support (DCS). The DCS is no longer required to compile and transmit information in the residential time summary reports to the AOC. The AOC is no longer required to annually report the compiled information.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	49	0
House	96	0	(House amended)
Senate	48	1	(Senate concurred)