HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2808

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives H. Myers and Appelwick

Changing the requirements for appointing court commissioners.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Dellwo, Forner, Hargrove, Inslee, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The state constitution authorizes up to three superior court commissioners in each county.  Court commissioners are appointed by the elected judges, and may perform most of the functions of judges, although commissioners' decisions are "subject to revision" by a judge.

A statute requires that a commissioner must be a citizen of the United States, and a resident in the county of the court to which he or she is to be appointed.

In at least one smaller county, the judges of the superior court have had difficulty in finding a qualified person within the county to serve as a commissioner.

SUMMARY:

The residency requirement for superior court commissioners is removed.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The amendment reduces the number of authorized district court judges in Pacific County from three to two.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 98