SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5415

BYSenators Pullen, Niemi and Talmadge; by request of Administrator for the Courts

Changing provisions relating to district and municipal courts.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 15, 1989

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In January, 1989 the Washington State Judicial Council completed a report which studied the effects of consolidating the district and municipal courts into a single level court of limited jurisdiction.  The council's recommendations include streamlining the district and municipal courts of the state by adopting a voluntary incentive-based court consolidation program.  The intention is to reduce the overlapping of court services and the excessive costs associated with overlapping jurisdictions.

SUMMARY:

Municipalities may contract with a district court or maintain their own independent municipal court or traffic violations bureau, provided that the minimum services are met.  These services are established by the Legislature with recommendation from the Judicial Council. 

Additional district court judicial positions are established by the weighted caseload methodology developed by the office of the Administrator for the Courts.  Part-time court districts are encouraged to combine to create full-time judicial positions. Statutory references to nonattorney judges are repealed, provided that a person other than an attorney may be a district court judge if the person is appointed prior to the effective date of this act.

Public safety and education assessment is increased to 100 percent of fines, forfeitures, and penalties assessed and collected, other than for parking infractions.  For district court, the split is 60 percent for the county and 40 percent for the state.  For municipalities which contract with a district court, the split is 60 percent for the municipalities and 40 percent for the state.  For municipalities which maintain their own municipal courts and traffic violations bureaus, the split is 57 percent for the municipalities and 43 percent for the state.

The state is required to pay one half of the salary and all the benefits of district court judges from the general fund.

Appropriation:    $9.38 million biennial appropriation

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      requested February 13, 1989