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Senate File 616 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to appropriations to the judicial branch.
2BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. JUDICIAL BRANCH.
21. There is appropriated from the general fund of the state
3to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
42019, and ending June 30, 2020, the following amounts, or so
5much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
6designated:
7a. For salaries of supreme court justices, appellate court
8judges, district court judges, district associate judges,
9associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, judicial
10magistrates and staff, state court administrator, clerk of the
11supreme court, district court administrators, clerks of the
12district court, juvenile court officers, board of law examiners
13and board of examiners of shorthand reporters and judicial
14qualifications commission; receipt and disbursement of child
15support payments; reimbursement of the auditor of state for
16expenses incurred in completing audits of the offices of the
17clerks of the district court during the fiscal year beginning
18July 1, 2019; and maintenance, equipment, and miscellaneous
19purposes:
.................................................. $20181,126,293
21b. For deposit in the revolving fund created pursuant to
22section 602.1302, subsection 3, for jury and witness fees,
23mileage, costs related to summoning jurors, costs and fees for
24interpreters and translators, and reimbursement of attorney
25fees paid by the state public defender:
.................................................. $263,100,000
272. The judicial branch, except for purposes of internal
28processing, shall use the current state budget system, the
29state payroll system, and the Iowa finance and accounting
30system in administration of programs and payments for services,
31and shall not duplicate the state payroll, accounting, and
32budgeting systems.
333. The judicial branch shall submit monthly financial
34statements to the legislative services agency and the
35department of management containing all appropriated accounts
-1-1in the same manner as provided in the monthly financial status
2reports and personal services usage reports of the department
3of administrative services. The monthly financial statements
4shall include a comparison of the dollars and percentage
5spent of budgeted versus actual revenues and expenditures on
6a cumulative basis for full-time equivalent positions and
7dollars.
84. The judicial branch shall focus efforts upon the
9collection of delinquent fines, penalties, court costs, fees,
10surcharges, or similar amounts.
115. The offices of the clerks of the district court shall
12operate in all 99 counties and be accessible to the public as
13much as is reasonably possible in order to address the relative
14needs of the citizens of each county. At minimum, an office
15of the clerk of the district court shall be open to the public
16for at least the same hours as other county offices in their
17respective county. If county offices within a county are open
18for a varying number of hours, the office of the clerk of the
19district court shall be open consistent with the county office
20that is open the greatest number of hours.
216. In addition to the requirements for transfers under
22section 8.39, the judicial branch shall not change the
23appropriations from the amounts appropriated to the judicial
24branch in this division of this Act, unless notice of the
25revisions is given prior to their effective date to the
26legislative services agency. The notice shall include
27information on the branch’s rationale for making the changes
28and details concerning the workload and performance measures
29upon which the changes are based.
307. The judicial branch shall submit a semiannual update
31to the legislative services agency specifying the amounts of
32fines, surcharges, and court costs collected using the Iowa
33court information system since the last report. The judicial
34branch shall continue to facilitate the sharing of vital
35sentencing and other information with other state departments
-2-1and governmental agencies involved in the criminal justice
2system through the Iowa court information system.
38. The judicial branch shall provide a report to the general
4assembly by January 1, 2020, concerning the amounts received
5and expended from the enhanced court collections fund created
6in section 602.1304 and the court technology and modernization
7fund created in section 602.8108, subsection 9, during the
8fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019,
9and the plans for expenditures from each fund during the fiscal
10year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020. A copy
11of the report shall be provided to the legislative services
12agency.
13 Sec. 2. CIVIL TRIALS — LOCATION. Notwithstanding any
14provision to the contrary, for the fiscal year beginning July
151, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, if all parties in a case
16agree, a civil trial including a jury trial may take place in a
17county contiguous to the county with proper jurisdiction, even
18if the contiguous county is located in an adjacent judicial
19district or judicial election district. If the trial is moved
20pursuant to this section, court personnel shall treat the case
21as if a change of venue occurred. However, if a trial is moved
22to an adjacent judicial district or judicial election district,
23the judicial officers serving in the judicial district or
24judicial election district receiving the case shall preside
25over the case.
26 Sec. 3. TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT. Notwithstanding section
27602.1509, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and
28ending June 30, 2020, a judicial officer may waive travel
29reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s
30county of residence to conduct official judicial business.
31 Sec. 4. JUDICIAL OFFICER — UNPAID LEAVE. Notwithstanding
32the annual salary rates for judicial officers established by
332013 Iowa Acts, chapter 140, section 40, for the fiscal year
34beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, the supreme
35court may by order place all judicial officers on unpaid leave
-3-1status on any day employees of the judicial branch are placed
2on temporary layoff status. The biweekly pay of the judicial
3officers shall be reduced accordingly for the pay period in
4which the unpaid leave date occurred in the same manner as
5for noncontract employees of the judicial branch. Through
6the course of the fiscal year, the judicial branch may use an
7amount equal to the aggregate amount of salary reductions due
8to the judicial officer unpaid leave days for any purpose other
9than for judicial salaries.
10 Sec. 5. IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. It is the intent
11of the general assembly that the judicial branch utilize
12the Iowa communications network or other secure electronic
13communications in lieu of traveling for the fiscal year
14beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020.
15 Sec. 6. STATE COURT — JUSTICES, JUDGES, AND MAGISTRATES.
161. The salary rates specified in subsection 2 are for the
17fiscal year beginning in July 1, 2019, and for subsequent
18fiscal years until otherwise provided by the general assembly.
19The salaries provided for in this section shall be paid
20from funds allocated to the judicial branch from the salary
21adjustment fund, or if the allocation is not sufficient, from
22funds appropriated to the judicial branch pursuant to this Act
23or any other Act of the general assembly.
242. The following annual salary rates shall be paid to the
25persons holding the judicial positions indicated during the
26fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and for subsequent pay
27periods.
28a. Chief justice of the supreme court:
.................................................. $29186,661
30b. Each justice of the supreme court:
.................................................. $31178,304
32c. Chief judge of the court of appeals:
.................................................. $33167,160
34d. Each associate judge of the court of appeals:
.................................................. $35161,588
-4- 1e. Each chief judge of a judicial district:
.................................................. $2156,016
3f. Each district judge except the chief judge of a judicial
4district:
.................................................. $5150,444
6g. Each district associate judge:
.................................................. $7133,728
8h. Each associate juvenile judge:
.................................................. $9133,728
10i. Each associate probate judge:
.................................................. $11133,728
12j. Each judicial magistrate:
.................................................. $1341,232
14k. Each senior judge:
.................................................. $158,915
163. Persons receiving the salary rates established
17under this section shall not receive any additional salary
18adjustments provided by this Act.
19EXPLANATION
20The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
21the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
22This bill makes appropriations to the judicial branch.
23The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state for
24FY 2019-2020 to the judicial branch for salaries, maintenance,
25equipment, and miscellaneous purposes.
26The bill provides that the offices of the clerks of the
27district court shall operate in all 99 counties and be
28accessible to the public as much as is reasonably possible
29in order to address the relative needs of the citizens of
30each county. The bill provides that at minimum, an office of
31the clerk of the district court shall be open to the public
32for at least the same hours as other county offices in their
33respective counties. The bill provides that if county offices
34within a county are open a varying number of hours, the office
35of the clerk of the district court shall be open consistent
-5-1with the county office that is open the greatest number of
2hours.
3The bill provides that a civil trial including a jury trial
4may take place in a county contiguous to the county with proper
5jurisdiction, even if the contiguous county is located in an
6adjacent judicial district or judicial election district, if
7all the parties in a case agree. If a trial is moved to another
8county that is located in another judicial district or judicial
9election district, the judicial officers serving the judicial
10district or judicial election district receiving the case shall
11preside over the case.
12The bill permits a judicial officer to waive travel
13reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s
14county of residence to conduct official business.
15The bill allows a judicial officer to be placed on unpaid
16leave for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, on any day a
17court employee is required to furlough. The bill provides that
18if a judicial officer is placed on unpaid leave, the salary of
19the judicial officer shall be reduced accordingly for the pay
20period in which the unpaid leave occurred. Through the course
21of the fiscal year, the bill provides that the judicial branch
22may use an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the salary
23reductions due to judicial officer unpaid leave for any purpose
24other than judicial salaries.
25The bill states legislative intent that the judicial
26branch utilize the Iowa communications network or other secure
27electronic communications in lieu of traveling.
28The bill sets forth the salary rates for certain positions in
29the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019.
-6-asf/tm
2BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. JUDICIAL BRANCH.
21. There is appropriated from the general fund of the state
3to the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
42019, and ending June 30, 2020, the following amounts, or so
5much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
6designated:
7a. For salaries of supreme court justices, appellate court
8judges, district court judges, district associate judges,
9associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, judicial
10magistrates and staff, state court administrator, clerk of the
11supreme court, district court administrators, clerks of the
12district court, juvenile court officers, board of law examiners
13and board of examiners of shorthand reporters and judicial
14qualifications commission; receipt and disbursement of child
15support payments; reimbursement of the auditor of state for
16expenses incurred in completing audits of the offices of the
17clerks of the district court during the fiscal year beginning
18July 1, 2019; and maintenance, equipment, and miscellaneous
19purposes:
.................................................. $20181,126,293
21b. For deposit in the revolving fund created pursuant to
22section 602.1302, subsection 3, for jury and witness fees,
23mileage, costs related to summoning jurors, costs and fees for
24interpreters and translators, and reimbursement of attorney
25fees paid by the state public defender:
.................................................. $263,100,000
272. The judicial branch, except for purposes of internal
28processing, shall use the current state budget system, the
29state payroll system, and the Iowa finance and accounting
30system in administration of programs and payments for services,
31and shall not duplicate the state payroll, accounting, and
32budgeting systems.
333. The judicial branch shall submit monthly financial
34statements to the legislative services agency and the
35department of management containing all appropriated accounts
-1-1in the same manner as provided in the monthly financial status
2reports and personal services usage reports of the department
3of administrative services. The monthly financial statements
4shall include a comparison of the dollars and percentage
5spent of budgeted versus actual revenues and expenditures on
6a cumulative basis for full-time equivalent positions and
7dollars.
84. The judicial branch shall focus efforts upon the
9collection of delinquent fines, penalties, court costs, fees,
10surcharges, or similar amounts.
115. The offices of the clerks of the district court shall
12operate in all 99 counties and be accessible to the public as
13much as is reasonably possible in order to address the relative
14needs of the citizens of each county. At minimum, an office
15of the clerk of the district court shall be open to the public
16for at least the same hours as other county offices in their
17respective county. If county offices within a county are open
18for a varying number of hours, the office of the clerk of the
19district court shall be open consistent with the county office
20that is open the greatest number of hours.
216. In addition to the requirements for transfers under
22section 8.39, the judicial branch shall not change the
23appropriations from the amounts appropriated to the judicial
24branch in this division of this Act, unless notice of the
25revisions is given prior to their effective date to the
26legislative services agency. The notice shall include
27information on the branch’s rationale for making the changes
28and details concerning the workload and performance measures
29upon which the changes are based.
307. The judicial branch shall submit a semiannual update
31to the legislative services agency specifying the amounts of
32fines, surcharges, and court costs collected using the Iowa
33court information system since the last report. The judicial
34branch shall continue to facilitate the sharing of vital
35sentencing and other information with other state departments
-2-1and governmental agencies involved in the criminal justice
2system through the Iowa court information system.
38. The judicial branch shall provide a report to the general
4assembly by January 1, 2020, concerning the amounts received
5and expended from the enhanced court collections fund created
6in section 602.1304 and the court technology and modernization
7fund created in section 602.8108, subsection 9, during the
8fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019,
9and the plans for expenditures from each fund during the fiscal
10year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020. A copy
11of the report shall be provided to the legislative services
12agency.
13 Sec. 2. CIVIL TRIALS — LOCATION. Notwithstanding any
14provision to the contrary, for the fiscal year beginning July
151, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, if all parties in a case
16agree, a civil trial including a jury trial may take place in a
17county contiguous to the county with proper jurisdiction, even
18if the contiguous county is located in an adjacent judicial
19district or judicial election district. If the trial is moved
20pursuant to this section, court personnel shall treat the case
21as if a change of venue occurred. However, if a trial is moved
22to an adjacent judicial district or judicial election district,
23the judicial officers serving in the judicial district or
24judicial election district receiving the case shall preside
25over the case.
26 Sec. 3. TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT. Notwithstanding section
27602.1509, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and
28ending June 30, 2020, a judicial officer may waive travel
29reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s
30county of residence to conduct official judicial business.
31 Sec. 4. JUDICIAL OFFICER — UNPAID LEAVE. Notwithstanding
32the annual salary rates for judicial officers established by
332013 Iowa Acts, chapter 140, section 40, for the fiscal year
34beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, the supreme
35court may by order place all judicial officers on unpaid leave
-3-1status on any day employees of the judicial branch are placed
2on temporary layoff status. The biweekly pay of the judicial
3officers shall be reduced accordingly for the pay period in
4which the unpaid leave date occurred in the same manner as
5for noncontract employees of the judicial branch. Through
6the course of the fiscal year, the judicial branch may use an
7amount equal to the aggregate amount of salary reductions due
8to the judicial officer unpaid leave days for any purpose other
9than for judicial salaries.
10 Sec. 5. IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. It is the intent
11of the general assembly that the judicial branch utilize
12the Iowa communications network or other secure electronic
13communications in lieu of traveling for the fiscal year
14beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020.
15 Sec. 6. STATE COURT — JUSTICES, JUDGES, AND MAGISTRATES.
161. The salary rates specified in subsection 2 are for the
17fiscal year beginning in July 1, 2019, and for subsequent
18fiscal years until otherwise provided by the general assembly.
19The salaries provided for in this section shall be paid
20from funds allocated to the judicial branch from the salary
21adjustment fund, or if the allocation is not sufficient, from
22funds appropriated to the judicial branch pursuant to this Act
23or any other Act of the general assembly.
242. The following annual salary rates shall be paid to the
25persons holding the judicial positions indicated during the
26fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and for subsequent pay
27periods.
28a. Chief justice of the supreme court:
.................................................. $29186,661
30b. Each justice of the supreme court:
.................................................. $31178,304
32c. Chief judge of the court of appeals:
.................................................. $33167,160
34d. Each associate judge of the court of appeals:
.................................................. $35161,588
-4- 1e. Each chief judge of a judicial district:
.................................................. $2156,016
3f. Each district judge except the chief judge of a judicial
4district:
.................................................. $5150,444
6g. Each district associate judge:
.................................................. $7133,728
8h. Each associate juvenile judge:
.................................................. $9133,728
10i. Each associate probate judge:
.................................................. $11133,728
12j. Each judicial magistrate:
.................................................. $1341,232
14k. Each senior judge:
.................................................. $158,915
163. Persons receiving the salary rates established
17under this section shall not receive any additional salary
18adjustments provided by this Act.
19EXPLANATION
20The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
21the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
22This bill makes appropriations to the judicial branch.
23The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state for
24FY 2019-2020 to the judicial branch for salaries, maintenance,
25equipment, and miscellaneous purposes.
26The bill provides that the offices of the clerks of the
27district court shall operate in all 99 counties and be
28accessible to the public as much as is reasonably possible
29in order to address the relative needs of the citizens of
30each county. The bill provides that at minimum, an office of
31the clerk of the district court shall be open to the public
32for at least the same hours as other county offices in their
33respective counties. The bill provides that if county offices
34within a county are open a varying number of hours, the office
35of the clerk of the district court shall be open consistent
-5-1with the county office that is open the greatest number of
2hours.
3The bill provides that a civil trial including a jury trial
4may take place in a county contiguous to the county with proper
5jurisdiction, even if the contiguous county is located in an
6adjacent judicial district or judicial election district, if
7all the parties in a case agree. If a trial is moved to another
8county that is located in another judicial district or judicial
9election district, the judicial officers serving the judicial
10district or judicial election district receiving the case shall
11preside over the case.
12The bill permits a judicial officer to waive travel
13reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s
14county of residence to conduct official business.
15The bill allows a judicial officer to be placed on unpaid
16leave for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, on any day a
17court employee is required to furlough. The bill provides that
18if a judicial officer is placed on unpaid leave, the salary of
19the judicial officer shall be reduced accordingly for the pay
20period in which the unpaid leave occurred. Through the course
21of the fiscal year, the bill provides that the judicial branch
22may use an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the salary
23reductions due to judicial officer unpaid leave for any purpose
24other than judicial salaries.
25The bill states legislative intent that the judicial
26branch utilize the Iowa communications network or other secure
27electronic communications in lieu of traveling.
28The bill sets forth the salary rates for certain positions in
29the judicial branch for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019.
-6-asf/tm