DIST. COURT JUDGES; 86^th DISTRICT                                                               S.B. 730:

                                                                                  SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 730 (as introduced 12-13-17)

Sponsor:  Senator Wayne Schmidt

Committee:  Judiciary

Date Completed:  1-30-18

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act to require the probate judges of Antrim and Leelanau Counties to serve as a judge of the 86^th Judicial District within those respective counties.

The 86^th Judicial District consists of Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Counties, and has two judges. Under the bill, both of the following would apply under Section 810a: a) the probate judge for Antrim County would have to serve as judge of the 86^th district within Antrim County; and b) the probate judge for Leelanau County would have to serve as judge of the 86^th district within Leelanau County.

(Section 810a extends the powers, jurisdiction, and duties of a district judge to the probate judges in Arenac, Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Iron, and Ontonagon Counties, as well as to the probate judges in Alcona, Baraga, Benzie, Missaukee, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle Counties. Section 810a also provides that, in counties where the only district judgeship is being eliminated and the section of the Act that governs that district court states that Section 810a applies, the probate judge in that county has the jurisdiction, powers, duties of a district judge within the county, in addition to those of a probate judge.)

The bill would take effect 90 days after its effective date.

MCL 600.8151                                                                  Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would not have a fiscal impact on the State.  The bill could cause minor savings in administrative costs for the counties of the 86^th District.

Under the bill, beginning January 1, 2018, the 86^th District would assign two probate judges to serve as district judges.  This would not change the current number of judges, as the district currently has two district court judges.  The district had a third district judge in 2015, and the two remaining district judges occasionally travel to cover the docket no longer handled by a third district judge.  Assigning the probate judges of Antrim and Leelanau Counties to handle district court work in those counties could reduce some administrative and travel costs for the 86^th District to a small degree.

                                                                                  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.