SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6134

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1992

Brief Description:  Requiring seals for district courts.

SPONSORS: Senators Nelson, A. Smith, Erwin and Madsen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; M. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, Rasmussen, and A. Smith.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786‑7460)

Hearing Dates: January 23, 1992

BACKGROUND:

In 1991 the Legislature gave the district courts jurisdiction over petitions requesting a change in a person's legal name.  The federal government and some out-of-state agencies have refused to accept and honor orders lawfully issued by district court judges because there is no seal to authenticate the order.  District court judges are requesting statutory authorization to have a state seal to authenticate all of their orders.

SUMMARY:

District courts are authorized to have a state seal for use in authenticating the orders of such courts.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill will allow them to authenticate district court orders.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Judge McBeth; Judge Seitz