6249-S2 AMS PADD S4982.1

2SSB 6249  - S AMD623
     By Senators Padden, Kline, Dammeier

ADOPTED 03/05/2014

     On page 2, after line 3, insert the following:
     "In addition, the legislature intends to review the fiscal impact the new standards and limits will have on each local court and identify appropriations to agencies of the state judicial branch for nonconstitutional functions, program, and services that could be redirected to local courts to mitigate those costs. The legislature intends through its exclusive constitutional power of appropriation to find existing resources within the agencies of the state judicial branch to remedy the detrimental impact the state supreme court's action will have on counties and cities."

     On page 2, beginning on line 15, after "support" strike all material through "cases" on line 17 and insert "contracts, programs, and personnel specifically associated with indigent defense"

     On page 4, beginning on line 17, after "support" strike all material through "cases" on line 19 and insert "contracts, programs, and personnel specifically associated with indigent defense"

     On page 5, beginning on line 17, after "support" strike all material through "cases" on line 19 and insert "contracts, programs, and personnel specifically associated with indigent defense"

     On page 5, after line 23, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The administrative office of the courts must conduct an analysis to determine the increased cost and fiscal impact of the state supreme court's new standards and caseload limits for public defenders will have on county and city criminal justice system and court operations. The analysis must be disaggregated and identify costs for each county and city within the state. The office may consult with representatives of counties and cities, judges, prosecutors, and public defenders in conducting its analysis. The analysis must be provided to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2014.
     The administrative office of the courts must also provide the legislature with a report identifying by program the amount of biennial expenditures for functions and services provided by the agencies of the state judicial branch that are not required under the federal or state Constitution. The report must describe the purpose and beneficiaries of each nonconstitutional program. Funding that is distributed by formula or by grant must be disaggregated and reported by recipient. For purposes of this section, agencies of the state judicial branch include the supreme court, appellate courts, administrative office of the courts, and office of public defense. The report must be provided to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2014."

2SSB 6249  - S AMD
     By Senators Padden, Kline, Dammeier

ADOPTED 03/05/2014

     On page 1, line 5 of the title, after "creating" strike "a new section" and insert "new sections"

EFFECT:  Adds legislature's intent to determine specific impact of supreme court's rule on local courts and to identify existing appropriations within the judicial branch that could be directed to mitigate impact to counties and cities. Limits the use of funds from the increased fees to contracts, programs, and personnel associated with indigent defense. Directs the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to conduct an analysis of the increased costs the new standards and caseload limits for public defenders will have on each county and city. Requires AOC to report the biennial spending of judicial branch agencies on nonconstitutional programs. The analysis and report are due to the legislature by December 1, 2014.

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