BILL REQ. #:  S-0763.1 

Read first time 02/03/2005.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to mandatory arbitration; amending RCW 7.06.010; and reenacting and amending RCW 7.06.020.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 7.06.010 and 2002 c 338 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     In counties with a population of more than one hundred ((fifty)) thousand, mandatory arbitration of civil actions under this chapter shall be required. In counties with a population of one hundred ((fifty)) thousand or less, the superior court of the county, by majority vote of the judges thereof, or the county legislative authority may authorize mandatory arbitration of civil actions under this chapter.

Sec. 2   RCW 7.06.020 and 1987 c 212 s 101 and 1987 c 202 s 127 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) All civil actions, except for appeals from municipal or district courts, which are at issue in the superior court in counties which have authorized arbitration, where the sole relief sought is a money judgment, and where no party asserts a claim in excess of fifteen thousand dollars, or if approved by the superior court of a county by two-thirds or greater vote of the judges thereof, up to ((thirty-five)) fifty thousand dollars, exclusive of interest and costs, are subject to mandatory arbitration.
     (2) If approved by majority vote of the superior court judges of a county which has authorized arbitration, all civil actions which are at issue in the superior court in which the sole relief sought is the establishment, termination or modification of maintenance or child support payments are subject to mandatory arbitration. The arbitrability of any such action shall not be affected by the amount or number of payments involved.