SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6439

BYSenators Pullen and Talmadge

Adding municipal court departments in cities over four hundred thousand.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 28, 1988; January 29, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6439 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Halsan, Hayner, Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7418)

                  February 1, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Two levels exist within the courts of limited jurisdiction which consist of municipal courts and district courts.  There is concern regarding the lack of consistency between these two levels and the degree of duplicity of limited jurisdiction court services such as jury management, probation and case management services.  Consolidation of municipal and district courts into a single-level court system has been suggested.

SUMMARY:

The original bill was not considered.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Judicial Council will study the effect on the administration of justice of consolidating the district and municipal courts into a single-level court system.  The Judicial Council is directed to look at the extent to which duplication of services can be eliminated or reduced, the extent to which consistency can be achieved, the location and public accessibility of district courts and the number of judges and staff needed for consolidation.  In addition, the Judicial Council is directed to review the need for multi-county districts to achieve full-time courts, the state assumption or partial assumption of district court judicial salaries, the financial impact of consolidation on the state, counties, and municipalities and the distribution of revenue resulting from ordinance violations.  Finally, the Judicial Council will look at the authority for the appointment of judges, the role of city traffic violation bureaus, the impact on ancillary agencies and it will examine concurrent jurisdiction between district and superior courts.  The findings, recommendations and any proposed legislation will be reported to the Law and Justice Committee of the Senate and the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives by January 1, 1989.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 29, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Judge James Heller; Judge Gary Utigard; Judge Don Eide; Judge Edward Allan; Justice Fred Dore