Volume 8 Issue 19

Indicates featured legislation

Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced

NONE

Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity

Florida SB 386 AS AMENDED: Prohibits court from enforcing certain choice of law or forum selection contractual provisions. Requires court to review judgments and orders of foreign courts for comity before enforcing such orders or judgments. Specifying judgments and orders of foreign courts that are not entitled to comity. Providing that the attempt to apply the law of a foreign country is void under certain circumstances. Approved by full Senate 4/28/14. Approved by full House 4/30/14. To Governor for approval.

Missouri HJR 46 (Constitutional Amendment) Removes Supreme Courts power to try impeachments and places it in the Senate. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/29/14.

Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced

NONE

Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity

Louisiana HB 96 (Constitutional Amendment) Removes mandatory judicial retirement age. Approved by full House 4/28/14.

Louisiana SB 11 (Constitutional Amendment) Removes mandatory judicial retirement age. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/28/14.

Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced

NONE

Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity

Connecticut SB 456 Authorizes the Supreme Court to adopt the Connecticut Code of Evidence. Approved by full Senate 4/30/14.

Louisiana SB 628 Provides discovery rules of the Code of Civil Procedure and Code of Criminal Procedure shall apply to any investigation or hearing of the state's judicial disciplinary commission. Approved by Senate Judiciary A Committee 4/29/14.

Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced

NONE

Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity

Colorado HB 1096 Creates the underfunded courthouse facility cash fund commission and the underfunded courthouse facility cash fund and appropriates $1.5 million for the fund. Commission to grant money from fund for master planning services for construction or remodeling projects, to seek matching funds or leveraging opportunities for construction or remodeling projects, and to address emergency needs due to the imminent closure of a court facility. Approved by Senate Appropriations Committee 4/30/14.

Hawaii HB 1635 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: 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 Conference committee report approved by House and Senate 4/29/14. To Governor for approval.

Hawaii SB 2082 Authorizes additional land court fees to be established by court rule or administrative rule. Conference committee report approved by House and Senate 4/29/14. To Governor for approval.

Louisiana HB 154 Authorizes an increase of 50 cents in court costs for certain filings in all courts. Approved by Senate Finance Committee 4/30/14.

Louisiana HB 1130 Authorizes municipal governing authorities to contract with private collection agencies for purposes of collecting city court fines, forfeitures, penalties, and costs. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/28/14.

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 House Judiciary Committee 4/30/14.

Vermont HB 735 Modifies numerous court fees. Approved with Senate amendment by Senate Finance Committee 4/30/14. Approved by full Senate 5/2/14. House does not concur with amendment.

Selection: Newly Introduced

NONE

Selection: Floor and Committee Activity

Florida SJR 1188 (Constitutional Amendment) Allows governor to fill "prospective" vacancies in courts via state's merit selection system. Approved by full House 4/30/14. To appear on 2014 ballot

Structure Changes: Newly Introduced

NONE

Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity

Louisiana HB 569 ORIGINAL: Authorizes district courts to designate a section or division of court for human trafficking courts and provides for certain procedures. SENATE AMENDMENT: Same, but provides that the victim will receive certain support services only if available. Approved with Senate amendment by full Senate 5/1/14.

Louisiana SB 216 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides that where a judicial vacancy occurs, supreme court may reallocate OR may advise legislature and governor to abolish it outright. Approved by full Senate 4/28/14. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/30/14.

Louisiana SB 217 Provides that where a judicial vacancy occurs, supreme court may reallocate OR may advise legislature and governor to abolish it outright. Approved by full Senate 4/28/14. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/30/14.

Louisiana SB 532 Creates veteran's court program in all district courts. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/30/14.

Hawaii SB 632 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: Establishes environmental courts as divisions within the circuit and district courts. Judges assigned to environmental division may hear other types of cases as needed. Conference committee report approved by House and Senate 4/29/14. To Governor for signature.

Other: Newly Introduced

New Jersey SCR 80 (Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes statute transferring probation functions from Judiciary to State Parole Board. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

New York AB 9406 Permits issuance of distinctive plates to members of the association of city court judges. In Assembly Transportation Committee.

New York SB 7220 Permits issuance of distinctive plates to members of the association of city court judges. In Senate Transportation Committee.

Rhode Island HB 8096 Allows facsimile of the superior court seal to be placed on many court documents. In House Judiciary Committee.

Other: Floor and Committee Activity

California AB 1657 Authorizes the court to provide a court interpreter in any civil action or proceeding at no cost to the parties, regardless of the income of the parties. Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee 4/28/14.

Florida SB 828 Repeals statutes providing for prohibition on the practice of law by a retired justice of the Supreme Court, appointment and duties of a Clerk of the Supreme Court, compensation of the Marshal of the Supreme Court, excluding retired judges practicing law from the Conference of Circuit Judges of Florida and requirement that circuit court judges attend and participate in such conference. Revises number of members of the Judicial Qualifications Commission to conform to requirements of the State Constitution.  Approved by full House 4/28/14. To Governor for approval.

Florida SB 846 Specifies the applicability of certain provisions of the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees to members of the executive council of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. Approved by full House 5/1/14. Senate concurs with House amendment 5/2/14. To Governor for approval.

Kansas HB 2446 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: Sets time limits for determination of motions/cases: 120 days in District court & 180 days in appellate courts. Conference committee report approved by House 4/30/14. To Governor for approval.

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 full Senate 4/28/14. To Governor for approval.

Louisiana SB 606 Provides that the various courts shall provide by court rule for the method of electronic signature to be used and to ensure the authenticity of the electronic signature. Repeals law prohibiting electronic signatures relating to court orders or notices, or official court documents, including briefs, pleadings, and other writings, required to be executed in connection with court proceedings. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/30/14.

Minnesota SB 2718 AS AMENDED: Repeals provision that withholds pay of judges who have decisions pending for longer than 90 days. Provides 90 day deadline requirement to be enforced by chief judge initially rather that via judicial disciplinary board. Provides determinations of compliance to occur on a monthly basis. Provides deadlines and procedures set in statute to be used "unless different procedures for ensuring compliance...are set by the Rules of the Board on Judicial Standards..." Approved as amended by full House 5/2/14. To Governor for approval.

New York SB 6757 Provides that uniformed court officers and peace officers employed in the unified court system shall be entitled to accidental disability retirement if they sustain injuries as the result of a physical assault by an assailant suffered while in service. Approved by Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee 4/28/14.

Pennsylvania SB 601 Enacts Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act. Provides for official publication of decisions of the state's courts and rules of court. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 4/29/14.

South Carolina HB 4742 Prohibits filing false liens on judges and other public officials. Approved by full House 5/1/14.