HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5350

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse, Talmadge and Madsen; by request of Administrator for the Courts)

Providing for appointment of mental health commissioners.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (17)

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

House Staff:Pat Shelledy (786-7149)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Superior court judges and court commissioners preside over mental health civil commitment proceedings.  The number of mental health commitment proceedings has increased 40 percent over the past five years.  The Superior Court Judges' Association believes that mental health commissioners are needed to assist the courts with the increased workload in mental health commitment proceedings.

The Washington Constitution limits the number of constitutional court commissioners to three positions in each county.  The Washington Supreme court has held that the Legislature can authorize the counties to create additional court commissioner positions if those commissioners' powers and duties are limited.

SUMMARY:

The superior court judges may by majority vote appoint mental health commissioners, investigators, and staff to assist the court with mental health civil commitment proceedings.  The county legislative authority must approve the creation of the positions.  The mental health commissioners may exercise all the powers of a commissioner but only for the purposes of the mental illness chapters.  The commissioners may be full or part time but must be attorneys. The commissioners may be appointed to other statutorily created commissioner positions.

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.