S-4868               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6499

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Nelson, Vognild, Newhouse, Rasmussen, Thorsness, Murray, Patrick, Bender, Rinehart, Bailey, Madsen and Bauer)

Read first time 2/2/90.

AN ACT Relating to funding of dispute resolution centers; amending RCW 3.62.060 and 12.40.020; adding a new section to chapter 7.75 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 7.75 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) A county legislative authority may impose a surcharge of up to ten dollars on each civil filing fee in district court and a surcharge of up to five dollars on each filing fee for small claims actions for the purpose of funding dispute resolution centers established under this chapter.

          (2) Any surcharge imposed shall be collected by the clerk of the court and remitted to the county treasurer for deposit in a separate account to be used solely for dispute resolution centers established under this chapter.  Money received under this section is not subject to RCW 3.62.020(2) or 3.62.090.

        Sec. 2.  Section 110, chapter 299, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 2, chapter 382, Laws of 1987 and RCW 3.62.060 are each amended to read as follows:

          In any civil action commenced before or transferred to a district court, the plaintiff shall, at the time of such commencement or transfer, pay to such court a filing fee of twenty-five dollars plus any surcharge authorized by section 1 of this 1990 act.  No party shall be compelled to pay to the court any other fees or charges up to and including the rendition of judgment in the action.

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, chapter 187, Laws of 1919 as amended by section 58, chapter 258, Laws of 1984 and RCW 12.40.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          A small claims action shall be commenced by the plaintiff filing a claim, in the form prescribed by RCW 12.40.050, in the small claims department.  A filing fee of ten dollars plus any surcharge authorized by section 1 of this 1990 act shall be paid when the claim is filed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This act shall take effect July 1, 1990.