INGHAM CO. DISTRICT CTS, CONSOLIDATE                                             H.B. 6344 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 6344 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Sam Singh

House Committee:  Judiciary

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act to do the following:

-- Allow the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing to approve the consolidation of the 54^th-A (Lansing), 54^th-B (East Lansing), and 55^th (Mason) Judicial Districts before November 1, 2019.

-- Specify that the consolidated 55^th district would consist of all of the territory of the former 54^th-A, 54^th-B, and 55^th districts.

-- Require all full-time employees of the former 54^th-A and 54^th-B districts to be transferred to the consolidated 55^th district, if the consolidated 55^th district were created.

-- Specify that the consolidated 55^th district would have eight judges, and specify how judgeships would be determined, if the consolidated 55^th district were created.

-- Specify the selection of jurors in criminal cases, if the consolidated 55^th district were created.

MCL 600.8125                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and an indeterminate, though likely positive, fiscal impact on the governments of Ingham County and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing. Savings would be realized only if the resolution to consolidate the 54^th-A, 54^th-B, and 55^th District Courts were approved by those respective governing bodies. As the bill would retain all current employees, savings would be realized over time through attrition and eventual administrative efficiencies. The total number of district court judges and judicial salaries to be paid by the State in the proposed consolidated 55^th District Court would remain unchanged.  

Date Completed:  12-13-18                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Abbey Frazier

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.