SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1675

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, March 28, 2003

Title: An act relating to updating civil trial provisions.

Brief Description: Updating civil trial provisions.

Sponsors: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, McMahan and Kirby).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 3/28/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Esser, Vice Chair; Brandland, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Kline, Roach and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Jinnah Rose-McFadden (786-7421)

Background: Chapter 4.44 of the Revised Code of Washington relates to civil trial procedures; covering subjects such as notice of trial, impaneling juries, peremptory challenges, jury deliberations, and verdicts. While many of the statutory provisions have not been amended in more than 100 years, there are parallel and complementary provisions in more modern court rules.

Summary of Bill: Various sections of Chapter 4.44 are amended to conform to modern court rules and courtroom practices. Changes include consolidating provisions, replacing or removing ambiguous and archaic language, making grammatical corrections, and eliminating gender specific references.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This bill improves archaic language found in current statutory provisions.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Howard Graham, Washington State Bar Association.