FY 2007-08 JUDICIARY BUDGET S.B. 233: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION






Senate Bill 233 (as introduced)
Committee: Appropriations

FY 2006-07 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation	$259,428,100
Changes from FY 2006-07 Year-to-Date:
1. Justices and Judges Compensation. This includes compensation and defined contribution and FICA increases for four new circuit court judges and seven part-time probate judges who convert to full time as of 1/2/2007.	731,100
2. Department of Labor and Economic Growth IDG. Judiciary has not received this grant from DLEG in several years due to a lack of Federal TANF funds.	(40,000)
3. 2002 Sick Leave Payments. The last of these payments from the 2002 early retirement program will be made in FY 2006-07.	(148,300)
4. Administrative Reductions. A GF/GP reduction is applied across lines containing GF/GP funding, excluding judges' salaries, as follows: Supreme court administration ($132,900), Judicial institute ($26,800), State court administrative office ($73,100), Judicial information systems ($31,700), Foster care review board ($9,000), Drug treatment courts ($8,700), Court of appeals ($214,900), Judicial tenure commission ($10,400), Appellate public defender program ($44,900) and Appellate assigned counsel administration ($7,900). These savings are achieved by not filling vacancies and reducing personnel costs. Half of these reductions are recommended in a FY 2006-07 supplemental appropriations bill.	(560,300)
5. Court Equity Fund Reimbursement. As part of the GF/GP reductions, these payments to locals will be cut.	(189,700)
6. Drunk Driving Caseflow Program. The authorization for this program is increased based on actual restricted revenues received from the Secretary of State.	700,000
7. Direct Trial Court Automation Support. This increase in local user fees will allow the implementation of a new judicial information system. The total cost of the project will be $8.0 -12.0 million over four years.	1,693,000
8. Court of Appeals Motion Fees. A 2003 increase in the Court of Appeals motion fees is scheduled to sunset October 1, 2007. The Governor's recommendation assumes a delay or repeal of that sunset. The increased motion fees yield approximately $87,500 annually.	0
9. Economic Adjustments.	1,618,300
Total Changes	$3,804,100
FY 2007-08 Governor's Recommendation	$263,232,200

FY 2007-08 JUDICIARY BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2006-07 Year to Date:

1. Communication with the Legislature. The Governor removed language prohibiting the judicial branch from taking disciplinary action against an employee for communicating with a member of the legislature or his or her staff. (Sec. 204)

2. Retention of Reports. The Governor removed the section requiring the judicial branch to retain reports and records. (Sec. 212)

3. Audits of the Judicial Branch. The Governor removed the section requiring the judicial branch to cooperate with the auditor general regarding audits conducted under Section 53 of Article IV of the State Constitution of 1963. (Sec. 304)

4. Quarterly Reports. The Governor removed the section requiring quarterly reports on revenues and expenditures. (Sec. 305)

5. Court of Appeals Delay Reduction. The Governor removed the intent of the legislature language from the section. (Sec. 307)

6. Drug Treatment Court Evaluations. The Governor modified this section to require the state court administrative office to evaluate and collect data on the performance of drug treatment court programs, rather than contract with independent third parties. (Sec. 310)

7. Drug Treatment Court Funding. The Governor removed a five year limit on drug treatment court programs receiving funding under this section, language encouraging local units of government to refer to Federal drug treatment court guidelines, and a section stating that consideration of priority may be given to courts where higher instances of substance abuse cases are filed. (Sec. 311)

8. Parental Rights Restoration Act. The Governor removed the section requiring a statistical report with the number of petitions filed and granted under this act. (Sec. 312)

9. Expert Witness Testimony. The Governor removed the section requiring judges to receive training pertaining to expert witnesses. (Sec. 313)

10. Transcript Fee Reimbursement. The Governor deleted language requiring that funds appropriated for transcript fee reimbursement be disbursed to counties to compensate for costs incurred in the event of a statutory increase in court transcript fees. (Sec. 317)

Date Completed: 3-7-07 Fiscal Analyst: Stephanie Yu Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations. hijud_gr.doc