First Substitute H.B. 336

Representative Jeremy A. Peterson proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
COURT SYSTEM TASK FORCE

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jeremy A. Peterson

             5     
Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill creates the Court System Task Force, composed of 19 members, and specifies
             10      study issues.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    creates the Court System Task Force, composed of 19 members;
             14          .    requires the task force to study issues regarding the structure, jurisdiction, and
             15      organization of the court system in Utah; and
             16          .    requires that the task force provide the Judiciary Interim Committee with a report of
             17      the task force's recommendations by November 30, 2015.
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2014-15:
             20          .    to the Senate, as a one-time appropriation:
             21              .    from the General Fund, $9,300, to pay for the Court System Task Force; and
             22          .    to the House of Representatives, as a one-time appropriation:
             23              .    from the General Fund, $18,500, to pay for the Court System Task Force.
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          This bill is repealed on December 1, 2015.


             26      Uncodified Material Affected:
             27      ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Court System Task Force -- Creation -- Membership -- Quorum --
             31      Compensation -- Staff.
             32          (1) There is created the Court System Task Force consisting of the following 19
             33      members:
             34          (a) two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
             35      one of whom may be from the same political party;
             36          (b) four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
             37      House of Representatives, no more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
             38          (c) the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, or the chief justice's designee;
             39          (d) the Utah attorney general, or the attorney general's designee;
             40          (e) the executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;
             41          (f) a member representing the state justice courts, appointed by the chair of the Judicial
             42      Council;
             43          (g) a member representing the state juvenile courts, appointed by the chair of the
             44      Judicial Council;
             45          (h) a member representing the state district courts, appointed by the chair of the
             46      Judicial Council;
             47          (i) a member of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission;
             48          (j) the director of the Statewide Association of Public Attorneys, or the director's
             49      designee;
             50          (k) a representative from the League of Cities and Towns;
             51          (l) a member of the Utah Association of Counties;
             52          (m) a member of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers appointed by the
             53      board of directors;
             54          (n) one member of the Utah State Bar who does not practice in the areas of criminal
             55      prosecution or defense, appointed by the director; and
             56          (o) a member of the public with knowledge of and interest in the courts, jointly


             57      appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives.
             58          (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
             59      under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
             60          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
             61      of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
             62          (3) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum. The action of a
             63      majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the task force.
             64          (4) (a) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force who are legislators shall
             65      be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3,
             66      Legislator Compensation.
             67          (b) A member of the task force who is not a legislator may not receive compensation
             68      for the member's work associated with the task force, but may receive per diem and
             69      reimbursement for travel expenses incurred as a member of the task force at the rates
             70      established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             71          (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
             72      to the task force.
             73          Section 2. Duties -- Interim report.
             74          (1) The task force shall study the following issues:
             75          (a) the structure of the current court system, including justice courts, appellate courts,
             76      juvenile courts, and district courts;
             77          (b) whether adding specialized divisions or modifying existing divisions would
             78      enhance efficiency or due process within the system;
             79          (c) court commissioners;
             80          (d) the jurisdictional limits of the different levels of courts;
             81          (e) options for promoting other avenues of dispute resolution.
             82          (2) A final report, including any proposed legislation, shall be presented to the
             83      Judiciary Interim Committee before November 30, 2015.
             84          Section 3. Appropriation.
             85          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
             86      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
             87      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts


             88      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated for the fiscal year beginning
             89      July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015. These are additions to any amounts previously
             90      appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
             91          To Legislature - Senate
             92              From General Fund, one-time
$9,300

             93              Schedule of Programs:
             94                  Administration                 $9,300
             95          To Legislature - House of Representatives
             96              From General Fund, one-time
$18,500

             97              Schedule of Programs:
             98                  Administration                 $18,500
             99          Section 4. Repeal date.
             100          This bill is repealed on December 1, 2015.


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