BILL REQ. #:  H-2444.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to changing the number of court of appeals judges; and amending RCW 2.06.020; and adding a new section to chapter 2.06 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 2.06.020 and 1999 c 75 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The court shall have three divisions, one of which shall be headquartered in Seattle, one of which shall be headquartered in Spokane, and one of which shall be headquartered in Tacoma:
     (1) The first division shall have twelve judges from three districts, as follows:
     (a) District 1 shall consist of King county and shall have eight judges;
     (b) District 2 shall consist of Snohomish county and shall have two judges; and
     (c) District 3 shall consist of Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties and shall have two judges.
     (2) The second division shall have ((seven)) eight judges from the following districts:
     (a) District 1 shall consist of Pierce county and shall have three judges;
     (b) District 2 shall consist of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, and Thurston counties and shall have ((two)) three judges;
     (c) District 3 shall consist of Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties and shall have two judges.
     (3) The third division shall have five judges from the following districts:
     (a) District 1 shall consist of Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties and shall have two judges;
     (b) District 2 shall consist of Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties and shall have one judge;
     (c) District 3 shall consist of Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties and shall have two judges.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 2.06 RCW to read as follows:
     The judicial position created by section 1 of this act shall become effective only if that position is specifically funded and is referenced by division and district in an omnibus appropriations act.