Amended in Senate March 23, 2015

Senate BillNo. 229


Introduced by Senator Roth

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(Coauthor: Senator Stone)

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(Coauthor: Assembly Member Obernolte)

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February 13, 2015


An actbegin insert to amend Section 69104 of the Government Code,end insert relating to courts, and making an appropriation therefor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 229, as amended, Roth. begin deleteFunding of judicial positions. end deletebegin insertCourts: judgeships.end insert

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Existing law specifies the number of judges for the superior court of each county and for each division of each district of the court of appeal. Existing law provides that the Court of Appeal for the 4th Appellate District consists of 3 divisions. Existing law requires that one of these divisions hold its regular sessions in the San Bernardino/Riverside area and further requires this division to have 7 judges.

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This bill would increase the number of judges in the division of the 4th Appellate District of the Court of Appeal located in the San Bernardino/Riverside area to 8 judges. The bill would appropriate $1,202,000 from the General Fund to the judicial branch for the purpose of funding the cost of that new appellate court justice and accompanying staff.

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Existing law allocates additional judgeships to the various counties in accordance with uniform standards for factually determining additional need in each county, as approved by the Judicial Council. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to report biennially to the Legislature and the Governor on the factually determined need for new judgeships in each superior court using that uniform criteria for allocation of judgeships. Existing law authorizes 50 additional judges, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be allocated to the various county superior courts, pursuant to uniform criteria approved by the Judicial Council.

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This bill would appropriate $14,813,000 from the General Fund to the judicial branch for the purpose of funding the cost of 10 of those 50 judgeships and accompanying staff.

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Existing law specifies the number of judges for the superior court of each county and for each division of each district of the court of appeal.

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This bill would appropriate an unspecified sum of money from the General Fund to fund 10 existing superior court judge positions and two existing appellate court justice positions. The bill would require the Judicial Council to determine which positions are funded based on established uniform criteria, in order of need.

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Vote: 23. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insertSECTION 1.end insert  

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begin insertSection 69104 of the end insertbegin insertGovernment Codeend insertbegin insert is
2amended to read:end insert

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69104.  

The Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District
4consists of three divisions. One division shall hold its regular
5sessions at San Diego and shall have 10 judges. One division shall
6hold its regular sessions in the San Bernardino/Riverside area and
7shall havebegin delete sevenend deletebegin insert eightend insert judges. One division shall hold its regular
8sessions in Orange County and shall have eight judges.

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begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

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The sum of sixteen million fifteen thousand dollars
10($16,015,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to
11the judicial branch for the following purposes:

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12(a) The sum of one million two hundred two thousand dollars
13($1,202,000) shall be used by the judicial branch to fund the cost
14of a new appellate court justice and accompanying staff pursuant
15to Section 69104 of the Government Code.

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16(b) The sum of fourteen million eight hundred thirteen thousand
17dollars ($14,813,000) shall be used by the judicial branch to fund
18the cost of 10 of the 50 new judgeships, and accompanying staff,
19pursuant to Section 69614.2 of the Government Code.

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SECTION 1.  

There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund
2the amount of ___ dollars ($___) for the purpose of funding 10
3superior court judge positions and two appellate court justice
4positions. These moneys shall be used to fund judgeships currently
5established by the Legislature. The Judicial Council shall determine
6which positions are funded pursuant to the uniform criteria
7described in subdivision (b) of Section 69614, as updated and
8approved by the Judicial Council, in order of need.

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