SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2772

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Judiciary, February 25, 2000

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:  House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Hurst, Constantine, Lambert and Edwards).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/18/2000, 2/25/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There has been an increase in the number of cities that have been created in recent years C and many of the cities have subsequently created municipal courts.  The Board for Judicial Administration needs to know about the existence of all courts in the state in order to carry out the board=s policy-making duties.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Judge Lukovich, District and Municipal Court Judges Association; Chuck Foster, Board for Judicial Administration.