6226: COMMITTEE SUMMARY (11-29-04) - COURT OF APPEALS OFFICE LOCATIONS

COURT OF APPEALS OFFICE LOCATIONS H.B. 6226: COMMITTEE SUMMARY

House Bill 6226 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Jim Howell
House Committee: Judiciary
Senate Committee: Judiciary

Date Completed: 11-29-04

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to change the requirement regarding the location of offices of Court of Appeals judges first elected or appointed to a term beginning on or after the effective date of Public Act 190 of 1993 (January 1, 1994). That Act amended the RJA to increase the number of Court of Appeals districts from three to four and to increase the number of Court of Appeals judges from 24 to 28.

Under the RJA, as amended by Public Act 190, a Court of Appeals judge elected or appointed to a first term beginning on or after January 1, 1994, must maintain offices in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, or Southfield. The bill instead would require such a judge to maintain offices only in the principal Court of Appeals offices in the district in which he or she was elected or in another office located in the city where the principal Court of Appeals facilities were located.

MCL 600.303d Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent that the bill would create greater flexibility in locating Court of Appeals judicial offices, it would allow the courts to take advantage of less expensive leasing options and therefore would provide savings to the Judiciary.

Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall

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. hb6226/0304