SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5347

BYSenators Hayner, Newhouse, Madsen, Vognild and Warnke; by request of Administrator for the Courts

Establishing a judicial information system fund.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1989; February 28, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5347 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Hayner, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Ben Barnes (786-7465)

                  February 28, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 28, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The judicial information system is a statewide computerized system which collects, stores, and disseminates data from court files.  It is operated by the Administrator for the Courts, under the direction of the Judicial Information System Committee, for the benefit of the courts of this state and other appropriate users of judicial information.

Funds received from noncourt users of the judicial information system are deposited in the public safety and education account of the State Treasurer's Office.  It is recommended that a separate account be created for deposit of these funds.

SUMMARY:

The Judicial Information System Committee is authorized to develop a fee schedule for the provision of judicial information services, supplies, products, and equipment to noncourt users.  No fee is charged, however, to county governmental agencies which use the judicial information system for the business of the courts.

The Office of the Administrator for the Courts is authorized to create, maintain, and administer a separate judicial information fund for deposit of funds received from noncourt users and licensees of the judicial information system.  The court administrator may recover the costs of developing and providing services under the system at the direction of the Judicial Information Committee.  The Administrator for the Courts is authorized to make disbursements from the fund at the direction of the Judicial Information Committee.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

No fee is charged to county or city governmental agencies within the state which use the judicial information system for the business of the courts of this state.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Mary McQueen, Office of the Administrator for the Courts (pro); Jack Morris, Office of the Administrator for the Courts (pro); Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (pro); Jim Goche', Washington Association of County Officials (pro)