FY 2001-02 JUDICIARY BUDGET - S.B. 236 (H-1): HOUSE PASSED

FY 2001-02 Senate-Passed Gross Appropriations $250,531,200
House Changes to Senate-Passed:
1. Drug Court Grants. The Senate increased funding for the Drug Court Program by $1,000,000, from $1,200,000 to $2,200,000. The House increased total funding to $3,000,000. 800,000
2. Judicial Technology Improvement Fund. The Senate transferred $3,000,000 from Court Equity Fund Reimbursements to a new Judicial Technology Improvement Fund. The House provided for a $3,500,000 transfer. 0
3. Compensation Study. The House reduced funding for implementation of the compensation study from $850,000 to $425,000. (425,000)
4. Guardianship Ombudsman. The Senate added 3.0 FTE/$324,000 to create a new Guardianship Ombudsman Office under the Supreme Court. The House eliminated this proposal. (324,000)
5. Child Support Enforcement System (CSES) Liaison. The Governor and Senate included 1.0 FTE/$90,000 (Federal/State) for a CSES liaison to work with the Friend of the Court offices and FIA. The House reduced this item by 0.5 FTE and eliminated General Fund support. (40,000)
6. State Appellate Defenders Office. The Senate added $25,000 for computer equipment maintenance costs and $53,700 for a lease/purchase agreement for two new copiers. The House eliminated this these increases. (78,700)
7. Part-Time Probate Judges. The Senate included half-year funding to convert part-time probate judges to full-time status. Legislation is required to implement this change. The House eliminated the funding. (288,300)
8. Legal Aid. The House included funding for a new program to reimburse law school tuition loan costs for legal aid attorneys. 200,000
9. Economic Adjustments/Other Changes. The House reduced salary related general fund economic increases by one-third, and created a $100 point of difference for the Community Dispute Resolution Program. (459,400)
Total Changes (615,400)
FY 2001-02 House-Passed Gross Appropriation $249,915,800

FY 2001-02 JUDICIARY BUDGET - BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2001-02 Senate-Passed:
1. Buy American Intent Language. Prohibits use of appropriations for purchase of foreign goods or services when competitively priced American goods or services are available. The House added new language (Subsection 2) prohibiting the use of appropriations for the purchase of out-of-state goods or services if competitively priced and comparable quality Michigan goods or services are available. (Sec. 209)
2. Deprived and Depressed Communities. Requires Chief Justice to take reasonable steps to ensure businesses in deprived and depressed communities compete for and perform State contracts. The House added new language (Subsection 2) requiring reasonable steps to ensure equal opportunity for all who compete for and perform State contracts. (Sec. 210)
3. State Bar Dues. Provides that funds in Section 101 shall not be used to pay directly or reimburse annual State Bar dues for a judge, justice, or other employee of the judicial branch. The Governor and Senate removed this section. The House restored current year language. (Sec. 305a)
4. Community Dispute Resolution Centers. The House added new language (Subsection 2) encouraging the Chief Justice to distribute pamphlets of information on the Community Dispute Resolution Program. (Sec. 310)
5. Drug Court Program. Provides criteria for the administration of the Drug Court Program. Subsection 4 provides that beginning with FY 2001-02, except for one-time planning grants, the State funding will be limited to 3 years and also provides for increasing local match requirements (25%, 40%, 50%) for each of the 3 years. The Senate and House eliminated current year subsection 4. The House added two new subsections requiring allocation of sufficient funds for the Michigan Judicial Institute to provide in-state training (Subsection 4), and requiring planning and implementation grants to be prioritized based on courts where higher instances of substance abuse cases are filed (Subsection 5). (Sec. 311)
6. Parental Rights Restoration Act Statistical Report. Requires the State Court Administrative Office to produce a statistical report regarding the implementation of the Parental Rights Restoration Act as it pertains to minors seeking a court-issued waiver of parental consent to obtain an abortion. The Senate restored the section. The House concurred with the Governor and removed this section.
7. County Compliance with Child Support Enforcement System. The Governor's recommendation modifies the language to require a penalty if the county has not implemented the new system and the FIA determines that the county is not in compliance with the letter of agreement, or a county has not cooperated with FIA in its implementation activity. The Senate concurred with the Governor. The House removed this section.
8. Judicial Technology Improvement Fund. Delineates appropriation for the Judicial Technology Improvement Fund. The House modified the language by eliminating the provision that provides for reimbursement of 50% of the fees charged by credit card issuers and including a new provision that would allow for the use of funds to develop, operate and maintain a cyber court system. (Sec. 316)
9. Mental Health Courts. The House added a new section that provides for the State Court Administrative Office to assist local trial courts who are interested in starting Mental Health Courts, if Federal funds become available. (Sec. 317)
10. Child Care. The House added a new section that requires the Supreme Court to assist trial courts that are part of demonstration projects regarding feasibility studies to create child care for parents who must appear in civil or criminal proceedings. (Sec. 318)
11. Restricted Funds Report. The House added new language that requires the Judiciary to provide a report listing revenue generated, expenditures charged to, and fiscal year-end balances for each State restricted fund. (Sec. 319)
12. Other Changes. The House eliminated current year sections retained by the Senate regarding privatization plan evaluations, personal service contracts, retention of reports, audited accounts of funds due to courts, case processing standards, indigent defense funds, and trial court pilot projects.


Date Completed: May 30, 2001 - Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman