JUDICIAL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION - S.B. 1051: FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 1051 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator George A. McManus, Jr.
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to authorize the reorganization of the 86th and 87th judicial districts by moving Antrim County and one judge from the 87th district to the 86th district.
The 86th judicial district consists of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties and has two judges. The 87th judicial district consists of Kalkaska, Antrim, and Otsego Counties and has two judges. Under the bill, effective January 1, 2001, if all of those counties approved the reorganization of the 86th and 87th districts, pursuant to the bill and Section 8176 of the RJA, then the 86th district would consist of Grand Traverse, Antrim, and Leelanau Counties and have three judges and the 87th district would consist of Kalkaska and Otsego Counties and have one judge.
(Section 8176 provides that a new district may not be created and no district judgeship may be authorized or filled by election unless each district control unit approves by resolution adopted by its governing body and the clerk of each district control unit files a copy of the resolution with the State Court Administrator by 4:00 p.m. of the 16th Tuesday preceding the August primary.)
The bill specifies that, for purposes of the 2000 primary and general elections, if an incumbent judge of the 87th district residing in Antrim County with a term ending January 1, 2001, sought election to the 86th district as reorganized under the bill, he or she could file as an incumbent judge. The judicial candidate for the 86th district who received the highest number of votes in the 2000 general election would be elected for a term of six years; the candidate who received the second-highest number of votes would be elected for a four-year term for that election only.
MCL 600.8151 & 600.8152 - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The alignment of the district court within its judicial circuit boundaries would result in increased efficiency and facilitate coordination of services. Antrim County would realize net savings of approximately $27,000 related to the allocation of personnel costs.
Date Completed: 3-13-00 - Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanFloor\sb1051 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.state.mi.us/sfa
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.