BILL REQ. #:  H-0776.1 

Read first time 02/11/2003.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to changing the number of district court judicial positions; and amending RCW 3.34.020, 3.34.100, 3.38.020, and 3.38.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 3.34.020 and 2002 c 83 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any change in the number of full and part-time district judges after January 1, 1992, shall be determined by the legislature after receiving a recommendation from the supreme court. The supreme court shall make its recommendations to the legislature based on an objective workload analysis that takes into account available judicial resources and the caseload activity of each court.
     (2) The administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, may consult with the board of judicial administration and the district and municipal court judge's association in developing the procedures and methods of applying the objective workload analysis.
     (3) For each recommended change from the number of full and part-time district judges in any county as of January 1, 1992, the administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, shall complete a judicial impact note detailing any local or state cost associated with such recommended change.
     (4) If the legislature approves an increase in the base number of district judges in any county as of January 1, 1992, such increase in the base number of district judges and all related costs may be paid for by the county from moneys provided under RCW 82.14.310, and any such costs shall be deemed to be expended for criminal justice purposes as provided in RCW 82.14.315, and such expenses shall not constitute a supplanting of existing funding.
     (5)(a) A county legislative authority that desires to change the number of full or part-time district judges from the base number on January 1, 1992, must first request the assistance of the supreme court. The administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, shall conduct an objective workload analysis and make a recommendation of its findings to the legislature for consideration as provided in this section. Changes in the number of district court judges may only be made by the legislature in a year in which the quadrennial election for district court judges is not held.
     (b) The legislative authority of any county may change a part-time district judge position to a full-time position.

Sec. 2   RCW 3.34.100 and 1992 c 76 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     If a district judge dies, resigns, is convicted of a felony, ceases to reside in the district, fails to serve for any reason except temporary disability, or if his or her term of office is terminated in any other manner, the office shall be deemed vacant. The county legislative authority shall fill all vacancies by appointment and the judge thus appointed shall hold office until the next general election and until a successor is elected and qualified. However, if a vacancy in the office of district court judge occurs and the total number of district court judges remaining in the county is equal to or greater than the number of district court judges authorized in RCW 3.34.010 then the position shall remain vacant. District judges shall be granted sick leave in the same manner as other county employees. A district judge may receive when vacating office remuneration for unused accumulated leave and sick leave at a rate equal to one day's monetary compensation for each full day of accrued leave and one day's monetary compensation for each four full days of accrued sick leave, the total remuneration for leave and sick leave not to exceed the equivalent of thirty days' monetary compensation.

Sec. 3   RCW 3.38.020 and 1984 c 258 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:
     The district court districting committee shall meet at the call of the prosecuting attorney to prepare ((a)) or amend the plan for the districting of the county into one or more district court districts in accordance with the provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW. The plan shall include the following:
     (1) The boundaries of each district proposed to be established;
     (2) The number of judges to be elected in each district or electoral district, if any. In determining the number of judges to be elected, the districting committee shall consider the results of an objective workload analysis conducted by the administrator for the courts;
     (3) The location of the central office, courtrooms and records of each court;
     (4) The other places in the district, if any, where the court shall sit;
     (5) The number and location of district court commissioners to be authorized, if any;
     (6) The departments, if any, into which each district court shall be initially organized, including municipal departments provided for in chapter 3.46 RCW;
     (7) The name of each district; and
     (8) The allocation of the time and allocation of salary of each judge who will serve part time in a municipal department.

Sec. 4   RCW 3.38.040 and 1984 c 258 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The districting committee may meet for the purpose of amending the districting plan at any time on call of the county legislative authority, the chairperson of the committee or a majority of its members. Amendments to the plan shall be submitted to the county legislative authority not later than March 15th of each year for adoption by the county legislative authority following the same procedure as with the original districting plan. Amendments shall be adopted not later than May 1st following submission by the districting committee. Any amendment which would reduce the salary or shorten the term of any judge shall not be effective until the next regular election for district judge. All other amendments may be effective on a date set by the county legislative authority.
     (2) The districting committee shall meet within forty-five days of the effective date of changes in the number of judges to be elected in each district court district, or electoral district, if any. Amendments to the plan concerning the number of judges to be elected in each district court district, or electoral district, if any, shall be submitted to the county legislative authority not later than ninety days after the effective date of changes in RCW 3.34.010, and the amendments shall be adopted not later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of changes in RCW 3.34.010.