BILL NUMBER: SB 221	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 2, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2011

   An act to amend and repeal Section 116.221 of  , and to add
and repeal Section 116.224 of,  the Code of Civil Procedure,
relating to small claims court.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 221, as amended, Simitian. Small claims court: jurisdiction.
   Existing law specifies that the jurisdiction of the small claims
court includes various actions in which the demand does not exceed
$7,500, with specified exceptions.
   This bill would increase the jurisdiction of the small claims
court by increasing that amount to $10,000  , except as specified
 . The bill would also make a technical change by deleting a
duplicate code section that contains identical provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 116.221 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as
added by Section 2 of Chapter 600 of the Statutes of 2005, is amended
to read:
   116.221.  In addition to the jurisdiction conferred by Section
116.220, the small claims court has jurisdiction in an action brought
by a natural person, if the amount of the demand does not exceed ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), except for actions specified in
Section 116.224, or  otherwise prohibited by subdivision (c) of
Section 116.220 or subdivision (a) of Section 116.231.
  SEC. 2.  Section 116.221 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as added
by Section 2 of Chapter 618 of the Statutes of 2005, is repealed.
   SEC. 3.    Section 116.224 is added to the  
Code of Civil Procedure   , to read:  
   116.224.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 116.221, the small claims
court has jurisdiction in an action brought for damages for bodily
injuries resulting from an automobile accident if the amount of the
demand does not exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500).
   (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2014, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends
that date.