Volume 8 Issue 16

Indicates featured legislation

Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced

Minnesota SB 2956 Prohibits state's courts from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any federal firearms laws. Provides that "agent or employee" of state that enforces or assists in enforcing federal firearms laws is deemed to have resigned their office. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ohio HB 513 Prohibits use by state courts of foreign or international law. In House Judiciary Committee.

Pennsylvania HB 2168 Prohibits use by state courts of foreign or international law. In House Judiciary Committee.

Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity

Florida HB 903 Bans court use of international or foreign law in dissolution proceedings and support enforcement under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Exempts corporations, contract provisions, common law of England and tribal court determinations. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/11/14.

Florida SB 386 Bans court use of international or foreign law in dissolution proceedings and support enforcement under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Exempts corporations, contract provisions, common law of England and tribal court determinations. Approved by Senate Rules Committee 4/9/14.

Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced

NONE

Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced

NONE

Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced

Oklahoma HJR 1096 Rejects increase in the compensation for members of the State Judiciary as approved by the Board on Judicial Compensation. In Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.

Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity

Florida HB 1327 Requires Supreme Court, Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, Justice Administrative Commission, and others establish controls to detect fraud, waste, and abuse.  Approved by House State Affairs Committee 4/11/14.

Hawaii HB 1635 HOUSE VERSION: Requires the salary of the administrative director of the courts to be equal to the salary of the administrative director of the State and the salary of the deputy administrative director of the courts to be equal to ninety-five per cent of the salary of the administrative director of the courts. SENATE VERSION: Leaves percentage details blank. Approved with Senate amendment by full Senate 4/8/14. House does not concur with Senate amendments.

Hawaii SB 2082 Authorizes additional land court fees to be established by court or administrative rule. Approved by full House 4/8/14. Senate does not concur with House amendments.

Louisiana HB 154 Authorizes an increase of 50 cents in court costs for certain filings in all courts. Approved by full House 4/7/14.

Louisiana SB 111 Establishes that fees for e-filing may not exceed the fee amount for regular paper filing of documents. Provides that documents up to eight and one-half inches by fourteen inches, including but not limited to exhibits, attachments, suit records, transcripts, and depositions, shall be two dollars per page. Provides that all paper documents and other exhibits larger than eight and one-half inches by fourteen inches, shall be five dollars per page. Approved by full Senate 4/7/14.

Selection: Newly Introduced

Ohio HB 514 Moves elections for supreme court to top of election ballots. In House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee.

Selection: Floor and Committee Activity

Alaska SJR 21 (Constitutional Amendment) ORIGINAL: Expands Judicial Council, which serves as merit selection commission, from 7 to 16. Provides governor to name majority of council members (10 out of 16). AS AMENDED: Expands Judicial Council from 7 to 10. Provides governor to name majority of council members (6 out of 10). Requires all members of Council be confirmed by legislature. Provides quorum of 7 to take any action. Withdrawn by sponsor 4/12/14.

Oklahoma SJR 21 AS AMENDED: Vacates all current judicial nomination committee members selected by Oklahoma State bar. Removes Oklahoma Bar's power to name attorney members to judicial nominating commissions. Provides House and Senate leaders to name attorney members. Approved as amended by House Rules Committee 4/9/14.

Structure Changes: Newly Introduced

NONE

Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity

Arizona HB 2457 Renames and revises authorization for homeless courts to allow for creation of homeless, veterans, or mental health courts in justice or municipal courts. Approved by full Senate 4/9/14. To Governor for approval.

Hawaii SB 632 Establishes environmental courts as divisions within the circuit courts. Approved by full House 4/8/14. Senate does not concur with House amendments.

Louisiana HB 569 Authorizes district courts to designate a section or division of court for human trafficking courts and provides for certain procedures. Approved by full House 4/8/14.

Louisiana SB 532 Creates veteran's court program in all district courts. Approved by full Senate 4/7/14.

Other: Newly Introduced

NONE

Other: Floor and Committee Activity

California AB 2332 Requires trial courts comply with specified requirements before contracting out services currently or customarily performed by that court's trial court employees. Provides requirement for contracting work and exceptions. Approved as amended by Assembly Judiciary Committee 4/9/14.

Louisiana HB 46 Requires judges to sign and print their names on all judgments.  Approved by full House 4/7/14.

Louisiana HB 709 ORIGINAL: Allows justices of the peace to solemnize marriages in any parish which has no justice of the peace. AS AMENDED: Same, but also provides when justice of the peace appoints ad hoc justice of the peace to temporarily serve in office must notify attorney general within 72 hours. Approved by full House 4/8/14.

Louisiana HB 752 Expands the crime of filing a false lien against a law enforcement or court officer to include liens against any clerk of court, recorder of mortgages, and their deputies Approved by Senate Judiciary C Committee 4/8/14.

Louisiana HB 888 Creates the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) for the purpose of providing infrastructure, governance, standard operating procedures, technology, and training to support a statewide portal for secure remote access of certain court records maintained by LCRAA members to internet users and for document preservation. Approved by full House 4/8/14.

New Hampshire SB 263 Allows state court judges to solemnize marriages. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/10/14.

Tennessee HB 1640 Extends the Tennessee board of judicial conduct to 2018. Approved by full Senate 4/10/14. To Governor for approval.