FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2799

                         C 111 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Granting state-wide warrant jurisdiction to courts of limited jurisdiction.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Lambert, Hurst, Kagi, Benson, Lovick and Pflug).

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

District and municipal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.  In criminal matters, district courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses committed within the county and over violations of city ordinances.  Municipal courts also have jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and share jurisdiction with district courts over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses. 

Warrants issued by a court of limited jurisdiction are enforceable within the jurisdiction of the issuing court.

Summary of Bill:

The Office of the Administrator for the Courts (OAC) must establish a pilot program for the statewide processing of warrants issued by courts of limited jurisdiction.  The OAC must establish procedures and criteria for courts of limited jurisdiction to enter into agreements with other courts of limited jurisdiction in the state to process each other's warrants when the defendant is within the processing court's jurisdiction.  The OAC must establish a formula for allocating between the court that processed the warrant and the court that issued the warrant.  The OAC must report to the Legislature by June 1, 2003 regarding the effectiveness and costs of the pilot program.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate450(Senate amended)

House980(House concurred)

Effective:June 8, 2000