SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2477

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, February 28, 2002

Title:  An act relating to satisfaction of judgments filed by the department of corrections.

Brief Description:  Removing requirement for department of corrections to file satisfaction of judgments.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, Ballasiotes and Lovick; by request of Department of Corrections).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/28/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Kastama, Vice Chair; Costa, Hargrove, Long, McCaslin, Poulsen, Roach and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  Lisa Ellis (786-7421)

Background:  Offenders have made payments toward court ordered legal financial obligations directly to a county clerk's office or sent payments to a collection agency.  When a judgment for payment of money is not paid through a court clerk's office, but is instead received by the Department of Corrections (DOC), the DOC must file a satisfaction of judgment with the court.

DOC has reported that it is inefficient for their agency to file satisfaction of judgments since the process involves reopening a case that was sent to the clerk for collections in order to verify with the clerk that an offender has paid his or her obligation in full before submitting a satisfaction of judgment to the court.

Summary of Bill:  When a judgment for payment of money is not paid through a court clerk's office, DOC is no longer required to file a satisfaction of judgment with the court clerk.  The provisions of this bill apply retroactively.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.