HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 2772

Title:  An act relating to requiring new courts to report their establishment to the supreme court.

Brief Description:  Requiring new courts to report their establishment to the supreme court.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hurst, Constantine, Lambert and Edwards.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

CRequires any city or town that establishes a new municipal court to report the creation of the court to the supreme court within 30 days.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:

Some municipal courts operate as departments of the county district courts.  Cities and towns, however, are also authorized to create their own municipal courts that operate independently of the district courts.  Municipal courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters arising out of municipal ordinances.

Summary of Bill:

Whenever a city or town creates a municipal court, notice of the establishment of the court must be sent to the supreme court within 30 days.  [Note:  The phrase "city or county" on line 15 of the bill presumably should be "city or town".]

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

                 Office of Program Research