HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1564

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Judiciary

Title:  An act relating to superior courts.

Brief Description:  Creating a new judgeship for Cowlitz County.

Sponsors:  Representatives Riley, Padden, Appelwick, Basich and Wineberry.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 23, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Chappell; Forner; Johanson; Locke; Long; Mastin; H. Myers; Riley; Schmidt; Scott; Tate; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Patricia Shelledy (786-7149).

Background:  The Legislature sets by statute the number of superior court judges in each county.  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 construction and support staff costs, are borne by the county.  The Legislature usually only authorizes new judicial positions if the county legislative authority approves the additional position and agrees to pay county borne expenses of the additional judicial position.

Cowlitz County currently is legislatively authorized to have three superior court judges.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature authorizes Cowlitz County to have an additional judge, raising the total authorized from three to four judges.  The additional judicial position will only be effective if the Cowlitz County legislative authority authorizes the additional position and pays the additional expenses of the new position.

The position is not contingent upon funding in the budget.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The Cowlitz County legislative authority will authorize the position for the new judge.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Kurt Sharar, Washington Association of Counties (pro); and Frank Bishop, Cowlitz County (pro).