Volume 7 Issue 21

Indicates featured legislation

Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced

NONE

Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced

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Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced

New York SB 5620 Requires judiciary allow to sit for bar exam anyone who has graduated from an accredited law school, been admitted to the bar of another state, and has completed 1 year of externship under the direction of a NYS attorney. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity

Rhode Island SB 488 Requires the approval of the supreme court of any rules regulating the practice, procedure and business of the workers' compensation court consistent with the procedures in effect for all other courts. Approved by full House 5/22/13. To Governor for signature.

Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced

NONE

Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity

California AB 566 Establishes specified standards if a trial court intends to contract for any services that are currently or customarily performed by trial court employees. Provides that any contract entered into or extended between the date the bill is enacted and the date it is effective that does not comply with the requirements terminates 90 days after the date the bill becomes operative, unless the contract terminates earlier. Provides that if a trial court seeks to contract for services currently, previously or customarily or, as of July 1, 2012, performed by that court's trial court employees, all of the following apply: a) The contract may not be approved if, in light of the services provided by the trial courts and the special nature of the judicial function, it would be inconsistent with the public interest to have the services performed by a private entity. b) The court clearly demonstrates that the contract will result in actual, overall cost savings to the court, considering specified factors, as provided. c) The contract savings are not the result of lower contractor pay rates or benefits, provided the contract is eligible for approval if the contractor's wages are at the industry standard and do not undercut trial court pay rates. d) The contract does not cause existing trial court employees to lose employment, as provided. e) The contract is awarded through a competitive bidding process. f) The contract provides for qualified staff, and the contractor's hiring practicing are nondiscriminatory. g) The contract allows for immediate termination by the trial court, without penalty, for material breach. h) For contracts over $100,000, requires the contract to 1) disclose specified information, 2) provide measurable performance standards; and 3) require a performance audit and a cost audit be done and considered prior to any contract renewal. j) The contract is limited to no more than five years. Approved by full Assembly 5/30/13.

Louisiana HB 620 Requires judicial appropriations and all other nondiscretionary spending be considered desperately from other spending. Rules suspended, approved with committee amendments by Senate 5/30/13. To Legislative Bureau for review.

Louisiana SB 155 For Supreme Court, provides that in all civil cases and in all proceedings connected with civil cases the filing fee shall increase from $150 per case to $300 per case. Provides that if other chargeable fees are established by court rule, the clerk of the supreme court shall be entitled to charge such fee amounts as the court may determine and adopt by rule. Approved by full House 5/29/13. To Governor for signature.

Louisiana SB 188 Increases judicial salaries in 2013: 5.5% for supreme court, 3.7% for court of appeals, 4% for district court, 2.1% for state paid city/parish court judges. Provides for 2.1% increases for 2014-2017 for all judges. Provides that any salary adjustments resulting from this Act shall only apply to judges and shall not apply to any other public officer whose salary is set in accordance with the judge’s salary. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 5/28/13.

Nebraska LB 306 Change judges' contribution for retirement fund. Eliminates the July 1, 2014 sunset on the $6 court fees. Eliminates the July 1, 2014 sunset on the additional 1% member contribution rate. Increases salary of supreme court justices and thus all other judges (all other judicial salaries are recorded as a percent of supreme court justices' salaries). Approved by full Senate 5/29/13. To Governor for signature.

New Hampshire SB 68 Makes technical corrections regarding the escrow fund for court facility improvements, including changing the name of the fund to the escrow fund for judicial branch facility improvements. Decreases the percentage of court filing fees to be deposited in such escrow fund. Senate concurs with House amendment 5/30/13. To Governor for signature.

North Carolina HB 343 Provides Administrative Office of the Courts may withhold the amount of court costs and fees from facilities fees due the county when a county agency does not pay corresponding court costs and fees within 30 days of the date of filing of the action. Approved by Senate Judiciary I Committee 5/30/13.

Selection: Newly Introduced

NONE

Selection: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Structure Changes: Newly Introduced

NONE

Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity

Louisiana SB 71 Authorizes and provides for mental health courts. Approved by full House 5/28/13. To Governor for signature.

Louisiana SB 152 Allows specified courts to create gun court docket. Approved by full House 5/29/13. Senate concurs with House amendment 5/30/13. To Governor for signature.

South Carolina HB 3014 Requires creation of veterans treatment courts in each judicial circuit by the circuit solicitor. Approved with Senate amendment by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/29/13.

Other: Newly Introduced

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Other: Floor and Committee Activity

California AB 1127 AS AMENDED: Requires that on or before March 1, 2014, the Judicial Council shall establish the California Language Access Task Force, which shall be responsible for developing a comprehensive statewide Language Access Plan (LAP) for use by courts to address the needs of limited-English-proficient individuals. Approved by as amended by full Assembly 5/30/13.

California AB 1293 Authorizes each superior court to deposit the fines and forfeitures that it collects into its Trial Court Operations Fund instead of with the county treasurer and distribute the funds as provided. Suspends existing law requiring State Auditor establish a pilot program to audit 6 trial courts. Approved by full Assembly 5/30/13.

New York SB 4043 Revises state's city court system. Increases allocations of six regular part-time judgeships and convert twelve such judgeships to full-time status. Establishes new full-time judgeships. Expands residency requirements. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/29/13.

Oregon SB 528 Allows Secretary of State, State Treasurer, judicial department and legislative department to obtain copyrights and patents on data processing materials and to sell, lease or otherwise make available the materials to state and federal governmental bodies. Allows developing agency to keep part of profit to offset costs. Approved by House Revenue Committee 5/28/13.

Rhode Island HB 5830 Requires a sign language or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provider for all court proceedings. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 5/21/13.

South Carolina HB 3101 Prohibits state judges and other officials from enforcing Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. Recalled from Senate Finance Committee and put on Senate floor 5/29/13.

South Carolina SB 405 Provides judiciary and not state ethics commission to handle complaints against administrative law judges for possible violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct in the same manner as complaints against other judges. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 5/30/13.

Texas SB 107 Restricts disclosure by a court of criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure. Senate concurs with House amendment 5/25/13. To Governor for signature.