HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 2799

Title:  An act relating to granting state‑wide warrant jurisdiction to courts of limited jurisdiction.

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

Sponsors:  Representatives Lambert, Hurst, Kagi, Benson, Lovick and Pflug.

                    Brief Summary of Bill

CRequires the Office of the Administrator for the Courts to establish a pilot program that allows courts of limited jurisdiction to enter into agreements with other courts of limited jurisdiction in the state for the processing of each other=s warrants.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Staff:  Trudes Hutcheson (786-7384).

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 have jurisdiction over matters arising from city ordinances and concurrent 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.  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.  OAC must establish a formula for allocating, between the court that processed the warrant and the court that issued the warrant, any money or costs collected.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 30, 2000.

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

                 Office of Program Research