HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1735

BYRepresentatives Appelwick, Locke, Wineberry, Anderson, Miller, Crane and May; by request of Administrator for the Courts

Creating superior court judge positions in King county.

House Committe on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member, Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Hine, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:Susan Nakagawa (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 5, 1989

BACKGROUND:

By statute, the state Legislature determines the number of superior court judges in each county.  (Smaller counties may share judges jointly.)  Currently, King County has 42 superior court judges, although authorization exists for 46.

One half of the salary of a superior court judge is paid by the state, and the other half is paid by the county.  All other costs associated with a judicial position, such as capital and support staff costs, are borne by the county.

A statute requires counties to hire a stenographic court reporter for each superior court judge.

Periodically, the Office of the Administrator for the Courts conducts a "weighted caseload" study of the superior courts in the state to determine if more judges are needed in a particular county.

SUMMARY:

The number of superior court judges authorized for King County is increased from 46 to 52.

In order for the new positions to become effective, King County must agree to pay the county's share of the expense of the new positions.

The county legislative authority is authorized to phase in the additional judicial positions until January 1, 1993.

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The number of superior court judges for King County is increased from 46 to 52.  The six additional positions as well as the positions authorized from Chapter 323, Laws of 1987 are eligible to be phased in by the county legislative authority until January 1, 1991.  In order for the new positions to become effective, the county must agree to pay its share of the expense for the new positions without reimbursement from the state.

The new judicial positions are exempted from the requirement that a court stenographer be provided for each judge.

Counties are not required to provide superior court judges with individual courtrooms for the transaction of daily business.  These four provisions are effective January 1, 1990.

Superior court judges are prohibited from receiving additional compensation beyond their regular salaries for solemnizing marriages at their place of employment on public property.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill clarifies that both the six additional judges and the positions created by chapter 323, session laws of 1987 are authorized to be phased in by the county legislative authority.  The expiration date on the authority to phase the positions in is changed from January 1, 1993 to January 1, 1991.  Counties are not required to provide each superior court judge with an individual courtroom for daily business.  These provisions become effective January 1, 1990.

Superior court judges are also prohibited from receiving additional compensation beyond their salaries for solemnizing marriages at their place of employment on public property.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.