HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1993-054WIIATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 93 -309
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date. Received in Council Office:
Agenda date
Assigned to:
,inator: COUNTY CLERK
Division Head:
7/20/93
n;7 2 D
U �C
AUG 1 0 1993
N
WHATCOYCOU TY
COUNCIL
7/27/93
Council introduct-ion
8/10/93
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor:
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT.•
..............
An ordinance imposing a Superior Court filing fee surcharge and a marriage license fee surcharge to fund family
law courthouse facilitator services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Washington Laws, 1993: Chapter 435, §2 (new section to RCW 26.12, not yet codified);
RCW 26.12.220, Funding family court or family court services -- Increase in marriage license fee authorized ...
SUMMARY STATEMENT: Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Related County contract 4: 9212034
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO / / YES / X / Requested date:
Amount budgeted for this item/project: $
Is it (or will it be) within budget? YES / / NO / / (Please explain below)
Budget line item number(s): This is a revenue enhancement, not an expenditure (the revenue would not be enough, alone, to
fund the intended service).
- . Superior Court's Courthouse Facilitator position is a one -year, substantially grant- funded position designed
to assist pro se litigants in family law matters. The facilitator has made a significant contribution to the
efficiency of family law judicial administration in the Superior Court, expediting matters to be heard by the
court, has single - handedly improved the perception of the quality of and access to justice by pro se family law
litigants and by being available as a family law process expert has significantly lessened the public service
burden on the County Clerk's single customer service deputy. This request includes two parts of a three -part
facilitator position continuation funding plan. The requested ordinance is 1), to assess a $10 filing fee
surcharge on Title 26 actions filed in Superior Court, authorized by the 1993 legislature and, 2) to authorize the
maximum marriage license fee surcharge permitted by statute (currently $8.00), both in order to continue the
funding for the courthouse facilitator program. The anticipated annual revenue from the filing fee surcharge is
approximately $8,000 and that from the marriage license fee surcharge, assessed at $8.00, is approximately
$8,800.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Pass the ordinance assessing the filing fee and marriage license fee surcharges.
COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN.
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN:
7/27/93: Council introduction
8/10/93: Council adopted the ordinance. 6 -1 with Imhof opposed.
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only): Ord 93 -054
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INTRODUCED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: County Clerk
DATE. 7/27/93
ORDINANCE NO. 93 -054
ASSESSMENT OF SUPERIOR COURT
FILING FEE SURCHARGE
AND
ASSESSMENT OF MARRIAGE LICENSE FEE SURCHARGE
TO
FUND COURTHOUSE FACILITATOR PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the 1993 Legislature of the State of Washington has authorized county
legislative authorities to assess certain Superior Court filing fee surcharges in order to fund
courthouse facilitator programs and RCW 26.12.220 authorizes county legislative authorities
to assess a marriage license fee surcharge to fund family court services, and,
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Superior Court's present grant - funded Courthouse
Facilitator program has significantly contributed to the quality of and perception of the
quality of justice in family court matters in Whatcom County and has significantly reduced
the workload of certain of the County Clerk's public service duties,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the
Clerk of the Superior Court/County Clerk is authorized and directed to assess and collect the
maximum filing fee surcharge authorized by 1993, Laws of Washington, Chapter 435,
Section 2, and to deposit said filing fee surcharges collected as directed by the aforesaid
statute, and,
NOW BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the
Whatcom County Auditor is authorized and directed to assess and collect the maximum
marriage license fee surcharge authorized from time to time by RCW 26.12.220 and to
deposit said filing fee surcharges as directed by the aforesaid statute, and
NOW BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that if a
Unified Fee Schedule is adopted and effective prior to January 1, 1994, then the
authorization herein granted shall expire at the end of December 31, 1993, and thereafter the
authorization and fees provided for herein shall be addressed in the Whatcom County Unified
Fee Schedule.
PASSED this 10th day of August , 1993.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY WASHINGTON
Chairpers
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ATTEST:
Clerk of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
L4'ltj� -46�
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
(vj APPROVED ( ) VETOED
Shirley Van Zan n, coun4dExecutive
Date: F ��— ( 3
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