SB385 (2016) Detail

Requiring a full-time circuit court judge in Coos County.


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SB 385-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

 

2016 SESSION

\t16-2781

\t09/10

 

SENATE BILL\t385-FN-LOCAL

 

AN ACT\trequiring a full-time circuit court judge in Coos county.

 

SPONSORS:\tSen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. Y. Thomas, Coos 3; Rep. Froburg, Coos 3; Rep. Richardson, Coos 4; Rep. Tholl, Coos 5

 

COMMITTEE:\tJudiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

\tThis bill requires a full-time circuit court judge in Coos county.

 

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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.

\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

\t16-2781

\t09/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

 

AN ACT\trequiring a full-time circuit court judge in Coos county.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

\t1  Full-Time Circuit Court Judge in Coos County.  Amend RSA 490-F:5, II to read as follows:

\t490-F:5  Circuit Court Judges and Masters; Appointment; Tenure.

\t\tII.  Judicial and master appointments to fill vacancies which exist on the effective date of this chapter in the former probate and district courts and in the former judicial branch family division shall be to the New Hampshire circuit court.  Except for the full-time judge appointed to the Coos county first circuit court pursuant to RSA 490-F:7, IV, no judicial officer appointed to the circuit court shall be appointed to a particular location; however, the assignment of a circuit court judge to a particular location shall be within the discretion of the administrative judge of the circuit court who shall take into account the weighted caseload and judicial need of that location.

\t2  Full-Time Circuit Court Judge in Coos County.  Amend RSA 490-F:7, IV to read as follows:

\t\tIV.  The governor and council shall appoint a full-time judge to the Coos county first circuit court.  For all other judicial positions, the supreme court, after reviewing population, caseload, judicial time, and efficiency, available judicial resources, the needs of the circuit court, and other relevant criteria may request the governor and council to designate a sitting part-time judge as a full-time judge.  The court may recommend certain judges; however, the governor and council shall not be bound by that recommendation.  Upon designation, that judge shall become full-time.  Prior to making its request, the supreme court shall receive the approval of the fiscal committee of the general court and there shall be funds in the court's budget specifically appropriated for the salary and benefits of an additional full-time circuit court judge.

\t3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

 

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SB 385-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE

 

AN ACT\trequiring a full-time circuit court judge in Coos County.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Judicial Branch states this bill will, as introduced, will increase state expenditures by $280,346 in FY 2018, $281,701 in FY 2019 and $283,157 in FY 2020.  There will be no impact on state revenue or on county and local revenue or expenditures.  

 

METHODOLOGY:

The Judicial Branch states the proposed bill amends RSA 490-F:7 to provide that the Governor and Executive Council shall appoint a full-time judge to the Coos County Circuit Court.  The Branch assumes the intent is for the new judge to be appointed to sit solely within the Coos County Circuit Court and that the only fiscal impact will be the cost of the judge.  The Branch states the annual cost of a judge would be $280,346 in FY 2018, $281,701 in FY 2019, and $283,157 in FY 2020.