HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6276

                       As Passed House

                        March 3, 1992

Title:  An act relating to district judges.

Brief Description:  Providing compensation limits for district judges vacating office.

Sponsor(s):  Senators Snyder and Nelson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 21, 1992, DP;

Passed House, March 3, 1992, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; D. Sommers; Tate; and Vance.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  A statute provides that district court judges are entitled to sick leave "in the same manner as other county employees."  This language has been used as the basis for applying accrued sick leave toward a judge's retirement benefits.  Because of the resulting uncertainty in the cost of retirement benefits to counties, it has been suggested that this language should be clarified.  

Summary of Bill:  When vacating office, a district court judge may receive remuneration for unused leave at a rate equal to one day's pay for each full day of accrued leave.  Unused sick leave is compensated at a rate of one day's pay for each four full days of accrued sick leave.  The total remuneration for leave and sick leave may not exceed the equivalent of 30 days' compensation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill will remove ambiguity from the current law and will allow counties to better plan for expenses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Melanie Stewart, Washington District and Municipal Court Judges Association (in favor).