SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5015

BYSenators Halsan, Talmadge, Newhouse and West;by request of Statute Law Committee

Revising terminology regarding municipal courts.

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 13, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Halsan, Vice Chairman; Moore, Nelson, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

                  January 16, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, JANUARY 15, 1987

BACKGROUND:

There currently remain in the RCW isolated references to police judges and police courts, which are now obsolete.  There are also some substantive provisions regarding municipal courts which were, as a practical matter, superseded by the Court Improvement Act of 1984.  These provisions have passed the Senate the past two years, but have failed to pass the House.

SUMMARY:

References to police judges and police courts are changed to municipal judges and municipal courts.  Isolated substantive provisions and other obsolete statutory language relating to such courts are repealed if they deal with matters addressed in the Court Improvement Act of 1984.  For example, a provision requiring the chief of police to prosecute violations of city ordinances before a police judge is repealed.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Kris Backus, District Court Judges Association