5810: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION (2-13-08) - FY 2008-09 JUDICIARY BUDGET

FY 2008-09 JUDICIARY BUDGET H.B. 5810: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

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House Bill 5810 (as introduced)
Committee: Appropriations

FY 2007-08 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation	$259,291,500
Changes from FY 2007-08 Year-to-Date:
1. Mental Health Court Pilot Program. The Governor included $1.1 million in GF/GP funding for a mental health court pilot program. The program will be administered by the state court administrative office. $2.2 million of additional funding is in the DCH budget.	1,100,000
2. Next Generation Judicial Information Systems. The Governor recommended an increase of $652,700 in local user fees for the new trial court case management system. Berrien and Washtenaw Counties will pay the increase in fees.	652,700
3. Economic Adjustments.	422,800
4. Other Changes. These include increases for OASI and social security for judges, as well as an increase in defined contribution costs for newly elected judges.	445,700
Total Changes	$2,621,200
FY 2008-09 Governor's Recommendation	$261,912,700

FY 2008-09 JUDICIARY BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2007-08 Year to Date:

1. Communication with the Legislature. The Governor removed language prohibiting the judicial branch from taking disciplinary action against an employee for communicating with a member of the Legislature or his or her staff. (Sec. 204)

2. Contingency Funds. The Governor included language for Federal, state restricted, local and private contingency funds. (Sec. 206)

3. Reporting Requirements. The Governor removed the words "unless otherwise specified" from this section, requiring the use of the Internet to fulfill all reporting requirements of the bill.

4. Retention of Reports. The Governor removed the section requiring the judicial branch to retain reports and records. (Sec. 212)

5. Reporting Requirement. The Governor removed language requiring the judicial branch to report on each specific policy change made to implement enacted legislation. The section also prohibits the use of funds in Part 1 to prepare regulatory plans or promulgate rules that fail to reduce the disproportionate economic impact on small businesses pursuant to MCL 24.240. (Sec. 216)

6. Efficiency Mechanisms. The Governor removed language requiring the Chief Justice to implement continuous improvement efficiency mechanisms. (Sec. 217)

7. Auditor General. The Governor removed language requiring the judicial branch to cooperate with the Auditor General regarding audits of the judicial branch. (Sec. 304)

8. Quarterly Reports. The Governor removed the section requiring quarterly reports on revenues and expenditures. (Sec. 305)

9. Third Party Collection. The Governor removed a section requiring a report on the feasibility of a pilot project for third party collection of victims' restitution, court ordered fines and costs. (Sec. 306a)

10. Court of Appeals Delay Reduction. The Governor removed a section requiring $312,500 in fee revenue to be used for the purposes of delay reduction. (Sec. 307)

11. Pilot Mental Health Courts. The Governor added language requiring the state court administrative office to work with the Department of Community Health to develop guidelines for pilot mental health courts, and requiring trial courts to work with local community mental health programs to apply for funding for these pilot courts. The section also requires that $100,000 of the appropriation be used for training for court personnel and local law enforcement. (Sec. 309)

12. Drug Treatment Courts. The Governor removed language requiring that drug treatment court programs handle cases involving substance abusing nonviolent offenders. The Governor also removed subsection (2), which encouraged local units of government to refer to Federal drug treatment court guidelines to prepare proposals. (Sec. 311)

13. Parental Rights Restoration Act. The Governor removed the reporting requirement for the number of petitions filed and granted under this act. (Sec. 312)

14. Mental Health Treatment Courts. The Governor removed a section requiring that SCAO evaluate strategies respond to defendants with mental illness, including mental health treatment courts. (Sec. 316)

Date Completed: 2-13-08 Fiscal Analyst: Stephanie Yu Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. Hijud_gr