AN ACT Relating to court costs; and amending RCW 3.46.120, 3.50.100, 3.62.020, 3.62.040, 10.82.070, and 35.20.220.

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

Sec. 1. Section 46, chapter 299, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 3, chapter 389, Laws of 1985 and RCW 3.46.120 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All money received by the clerk of a municipal department including penalties, fines, bail forfeitures, fees and costs((~~, except those costs specified in RCW 4.84.010 or otherwise provided for by statute, assessed and collected in whole or in part by the court~~)) shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer.

(2) The city treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section, other than for parking infractions, and certain costs to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state, county, city, or town in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.

Sec. 2. Section 59, chapter 299, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 4, chapter 389, Laws of 1985 and RCW 3.50.100 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Costs in civil and criminal actions may be imposed as provided in district court. All fees, costs ((~~except those costs awarded to prevailing parties under RCW 4.84.010, 36.18.040, or other similar statute~~)), fines, forfeitures and other money imposed by any municipal court for the violation of any municipal or town ordinances shall be collected by the court clerk and, together with any other revenues received by the clerk, shall be deposited with the city or town treasurer as a part of the general fund of the city or town, or deposited in such other fund of the city or town, or deposited in such other funds as may be designated by the laws of the state of Washington.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.

Sec. 3. Section 106, chapter 299, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 5, chapter 389, Laws of 1985 and RCW 3.62.020 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, all costs ((~~except those costs awarded to prevailing parties under RCW 4.84.010, 36.18.040, or other similar statute~~)), fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties assessed and collected in whole or in part by district courts, except costs, fines, forfeitures and penalties assessed and collected, in whole or in part, because of the violation of city ordinances, shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court to the county treasurer at least monthly, together with a financial statement as required by the division of municipal corporations, noting the information necessary for crediting of such funds as required by law.

(2) The county treasurer shall remit thirty-two percent of the money received under subsection (1) of this section except certain costs to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state or county in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received by the county treasurer under subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited in the county current expense fund.

(4) All money collected for county parking infractions shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly, with the information required under subsection (1) of this section, to the county treasurer for deposit in the county current expense fund.

Sec. 4. Section 108, chapter 299, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 6, chapter 389, Laws of 1985 and RCW 3.62.040 are each amended to read as follows:

(2) The city treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section, other than for parking infractions and certain costs, to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state, county, city, or town in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.

(4) All money collected for city parking infractions shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly to the city treasurer for deposit in the city's general fund.

Sec. 5. Section 3, page 421, Laws of 1873 as last amended by section 169, chapter 202, Laws of 1987 and RCW 10.82.070 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All sums of money derived from costs ((~~except those costs awarded to prevailing parties under RCW 4.84.010, 36.18.040, or other similar statute~~)), fines, penalties, and forfeitures imposed or collected, in whole or in part, by a superior court for violation of orders of injunction, mandamus and other like writs, for contempt of court, or for breach of the penal laws shall be paid in cash by the person collecting the same, within twenty days after the collection, to the county treasurer of the county in which the same have accrued.

(2) The county treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section except for certain costs to the state treasurer for deposit as provided under RCW 43.08.250 and shall deposit the remainder as provided by law. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state or county in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel.

(3) All fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state law shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW as now exists or is later amended. All fees, fines, forfeitures, and penalties collected or assessed by a superior court in cases on appeal from a lower court shall be remitted to the municipal or district court from which the cases were appealed.

Sec. 6. Section 35.20.220, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as last amended by section 8, chapter 389, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.20.220 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The chief clerk, under the supervision and direction of the court administrator of the municipal court, shall have the custody and care of the books, papers and records of said court; he shall be present by himself or deputy during the session of said court, and shall have the power to swear all witnesses and jurors, and administer oaths and affidavits, and take acknowledgments. He shall keep the records of said court, and shall issue all process under his hand and the seal of said court, and shall do and perform all things and have the same powers pertaining to his office as the clerks of the superior courts have in their office. He shall receive all fines, penalties and fees of every kind, and keep a full, accurate and detailed account of the same; and shall on each day pay into the city treasury all money received for said city during the day previous, with a detailed account of the same, and taking the treasurer's receipt therefor.

(2) The city treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section, other than for parking infractions and certain costs ((~~awarded to prevailing parties under RCW 4.84.010, 36.18.040, or other similar statute,~~)) to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state, county, city, or town in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.