HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 6608

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of Second Reading

Title: An act relating to judicial stabilization trust account surcharges.

Brief Description: Changing judicial stabilization trust account surcharges.

Sponsors: Senators Harper, Pflug, Frockt, Kline and Eide.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

None.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

  • Increases the amounts of temporary surcharges on fees collected by superior and district courts.

Staff: Edie Adams (786-7180).

Background:

District and superior courts are authorized by statute to collect fees for court services. In 2009 the Legislature required the district and superior courts to collect the following temporary surcharges:

Seventy-five percent of these surcharges must be deposited in the Judicial Stabilization Trust Account, to be used for the support of judicial branch agencies. The remaining 25 percent of the surcharges are retained by the counties. Local revenues from the surcharges on district court filing fees must be used to support local trial courts and court-related functions. The temporary surcharges expire on July 1, 2013.

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Summary of Bill:

The temporary surcharges, other than the surcharge for small claims actions, are all increased by $10:

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 7, 2012.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.