63RD DIS. COURT; ALLOW ADD. JUDGE H.B. 4920:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4920 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative John Fitzgerald
Senate Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and 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 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.
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.