63RD DIS. COURT; ALLOW ADD. JUDGE H.B. 4920:

SUMMARY OF BILL

REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Bill 4920 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Representative John Fitzgerald

House Committee: Judiciary

Senate Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, Public Safety

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend Chapter 81 (District Court: Establishment; District) of the Revised Judicature Act to allow the 63rd District Court to have one additional judgeship, beginning on

January 1, 2025.

 

Under Section 8130, the 63rd District Court consists of Kent County, but for certain cities in Kent County, and has two judges. Under the bill, subject to Section 8175, the 63rd District Court could have one additional judgeship, beginning January 1, 2025. (Generally, Section 8175 allows additional district judgeships to be authorized if each district control unit within a district adopts a resolution approving the creation of that judgeship and the clerk of each district control unit files a copy of it with the State Court Administrator. The district control unit for the 63rd District Court is Kent County.)

 

MCL 600.8130

 

BRIEF RATIONALE

 

The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) conducts workload assessments based on caseload data in courts across the State. These assessments inform SCAO's recommendations to the Legislature concerning the number of judges in each court. According to testimony, assessments from 2019 resulted in SCAO recommending an additional judgeship in the 63rd District Court.

 

Legislative Analyst: Tyler P. VanHuyse

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The costs for a judgeship are shared by the State and the local government in which the judge

sits. The State covers salary and retirement costs, while the local government covers the cost

of additional benefits, personnel costs, supplies, equipment, office space, etc.

 

Each district judgeship costs the State just under $200,000 General Fund/General Purpose, with a base salary of approximately $172,100 and costs for payroll taxes and retirement benefits at $24,200.

 

Date Completed: 11-6-23 Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse

 

 

 

 

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.