FIRST CONFERENCE REPORT
The Committee of Conference on the matters of difference between the two Houses concerning
Senate Bill No. 191, entitled
A bill to make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
Recommends:
First: That the House recede from the Substitute of the House as passed by the House.
Second: That the Senate and House agree to the Substitute of the Senate as passed by the Senate, amended to read as follows:
(attached)
Third: That the Senate and House agree to the title of the bill to read as follows:
A bill to make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
_______________________ ________________________
John Proos John Walsh
_______________________ ________________________
Roger Kahn Rob VerHeulen
_______________________ ________________________
Bert Johnson Pam Faris
Conferees for the Senate Conferees for the House
SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 191
A bill to make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2014; and to provide for the expenditure
of the appropriations.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
PART 1
LINE-ITEM APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 101. There is appropriated for the judiciary for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, from the following funds:
JUDICIARY
APPROPRIATION SUMMARY
Full-time equated exempted positions............ 483.0
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 283,414,100
Interdepartmental grant revenues:
Total interdepartmental grants and intradepartmental
transfers............................................ 2,350,500
ADJUSTED GROSS APPROPRIATION........................... $ 281,063,600
Federal revenues:
Total federal revenues................................. 5,343,900
Special revenue funds:
Total local revenues................................... 7,133,100
Total private revenues................................. 931,500
Total other state restricted revenues.................. 84,213,800
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 183,441,300
State general fund/general purpose schedule:
Ongoing state general fund/general
purpose.................................. 178,950,600
One-time state general fund/general
purpose.................................... 4,490,700
Sec. 102. SUPREME COURT
Full-time equated exempted positions............ 245.0
Supreme court administration--92.0 FTE positions....... $ 13,101,300
Judicial institute--13.0 FTE positions................. 2,132,900
State court administrative office--61.0 FTE positions.. 11,590,900
Judicial information systems--22.0 FTE positions....... 3,012,000
Direct trial court automation support--44.0 FTE
positions............................................ 7,133,100
Foster care review board--10.0 FTE positions........... 1,271,000
Community dispute resolution--3.0 FTE positions........ 2,360,600
Other federal grants................................... 275,100
Drug treatment courts.................................. 9,583,000
Mental health courts................................... 4,100,000
Veterans courts........................................ 500,000
Community court pilot project.......................... 20,000
Swift and sure sanctions program....................... 6,000,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 61,079,900
Appropriated from:
Interdepartmental grant revenues:
IDG from department of state police.................... 1,500,000
IDG from department of corrections..................... 50,000
IDG from state police - Michigan justice training fund. 334,500
Federal revenues:
DOJ, victims assistance programs....................... 55,700
DOJ, drug court training and evaluation................ 300,000
DOT, national highway traffic safety administration.... 818,700
HHS, access and visitation grant....................... 604,900
HHS, children's justice grant.......................... 226,800
HHS, court improvement project......................... 1,275,200
HHS, title IV-D child support program.................. 997,900
HHS, title IV-E foster care program.................... 381,300
Other federal grant revenues........................... 275,100
Special revenue funds:
Local - user fees...................................... 7,133,100
Private................................................ 185,900
Private - interest on lawyers trust accounts........... 255,700
Private - state justice institute...................... 408,600
Community dispute resolution fund...................... 2,360,600
Court of appeals filing/motion fees.................... 1,641,800
Law exam fees.......................................... 628,100
Drug court fund........................................ 1,920,500
Miscellaneous revenue.................................. 268,600
Justice system fund.................................... 560,300
State court fund....................................... 372,700
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 38,523,900
Sec. 103. COURT OF APPEALS
Full-time equated exempted positions............ 175.0
Court of appeals operations--175.0 FTE positions....... $ 22,248,500
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 22,248,500
Appropriated from:
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 22,248,500
Sec. 104. BRANCHWIDE APPROPRIATIONS
Full-time equated exempted positions.............. 4.0
Branchwide appropriations--4.0 FTE positions........... $ 8,621,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 8,621,000
Appropriated from:
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 8,621,000
Sec. 105. JUSTICES' AND JUDGES' COMPENSATION
Full-time judges positions...................... 605.0
Supreme court justices' salaries--7.0 justices......... $ 1,152,300
Court of appeals judges' salaries--28.0 judges......... 4,240,300
District court judges' state base salaries--249.0
judges............................................... 23,044,500
District court judicial salary standardization......... 11,385,300
Probate court judges' state base salaries--103.0
judges............................................... 9,627,900
Probate court judicial salary standardization.......... 4,669,600
Circuit court judges' state base salaries--218.0
judges............................................... 20,534,600
Circuit court judicial salary standardization.......... 9,967,900
Judges' retirement system defined contributions........ 4,185,300
OASI, social security.................................. 5,639,300
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 94,447,000
Appropriated from:
Special revenue funds:
Court fee fund......................................... 2,988,100
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 91,458,900
Sec. 106. JUDICIAL AGENCIES
Full-time equated exempted positions.............. 7.0
Judicial tenure commission--7.0 FTE positions.......... $ 1,101,700
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 1,101,700
Appropriated from:
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 1,101,700
Sec. 107. INDIGENT DEFENSE - CRIMINAL
Full-time equated exempted positions............. 51.0
Appellate public defender program--44.0 FTE positions.. $ 6,646,900
Appellate assigned counsel administration--7.0 FTE
positions............................................ 1,041,300
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 7,688,200
Appropriated from:
Interdepartmental grant revenues:
IDG from state police - Michigan justice training fund. 466,000
Federal revenues:
Other federal grant revenues........................... 408,300
Special revenue funds:
Private - interest on lawyers trust accounts........... 81,300
Miscellaneous revenue.................................. 131,100
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 6,601,500
Sec. 108. INDIGENT CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Indigent civil legal assistance........................ $ 7,937,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 7,937,000
Appropriated from:
Special revenue funds:
State court fund....................................... 7,937,000
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 0
Sec. 109. TRIAL COURT OPERATIONS
Court equity fund reimbursements....................... $ 60,835,100
Judicial technology improvement fund................... 4,815,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 65,650,100
Appropriated from:
Special revenue funds:
Court equity fund...................................... 50,440,000
Judicial technology improvement fund................... 4,815,000
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 10,395,100
Sec. 110. GRANTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Drug case-flow program................................. $ 250,000
Drunk driving case-flow program........................ 3,300,000
Juror compensation reimbursement....................... 6,600,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 10,150,000
Appropriated from:
Special revenue funds:
Drug fund.............................................. 250,000
Drunk driving fund..................................... 3,300,000
Juror compensation fund................................ 6,600,000
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 0
Sec. 111. ONE-TIME BASIS ONLY APPROPRIATIONS
Full-time equated exempted positions.............. 1.0
Trial court performance innovation fund--1.0 FTE
positions............................................ $ 1,000,000
MiCS case management system............................ 3,490,700
GROSS APPROPRIATION.................................... $ 4,490,700
Appropriated from:
State general fund/general purpose..................... $ 4,490,700
PART 2
PROVISIONS CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014
GENERAL SECTIONS
Sec. 201. Pursuant to section 30 of article IX of the state
constitution of 1963, total state spending from state resources
under part 1 for fiscal year 2013-2014 is $267,655,100.00 and state
spending from state resources to be paid to local units of
government for fiscal year 2013-2014 is $136,975,300.00. The
itemized statement below identifies appropriations from which
spending to local units of government will occur:
JUDICIARY
SUPREME COURT
State court administrative office...................... $ 511,900
Drug treatment courts.................................. 9,283,000
Mental health courts................................... 3,997,600
Veterans courts........................................ 485,000
Swift and sure sanctions............................... 5,900,000
TRIAL COURT OPERATIONS
Court equity fund reimbursements....................... $ 60,835,100
Judicial technology improvement fund................... 4,815,000
Trial court innovations fund........................... 900,000
Michigan court system.................................. 3,490,700
JUSTICES' AND JUDGES' COMPENSATION
District court judicial salary standardization......... $ 11,385,300
Probate court judges' state base salaries.............. 9,627,900
Probate court judicial salary standardization.......... 4,669,600
Circuit court judicial salary standardization.......... 9,967,900
Grant to OASI contribution fund, employers share,
social security..................................... 956,300
GRANTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Drunk driving case-flow program........................ $ 3,300,000
Drug case-flow program................................. 250,000
Juror compensation reimbursement....................... 6,600,000
TOTAL.................................................. $ 136,975,300
Sec. 202. (1) The appropriations authorized under this act are
subject to the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1101
to 18.1594.
(2) Funds appropriated in part 1 to an entity within the
judicial branch shall not be expended or transferred to another
account without written approval of the authorized agent of the
judicial entity. If the authorized agent of the judicial entity
notifies the state budget director of its approval of an
expenditure or transfer, the state budget director shall
immediately make the expenditure or transfer. The authorized
judicial entity agent shall be designated by the chief justice of
the supreme court.
Sec. 203. As used in this act:
(a) "DOJ" means the United States department of justice.
(b) "DOT" means the United States department of
transportation.
(c) "FTE" means full-time equated.
(d) "HHS" means the United States department of health and
human services.
(e) "IDG" means interdepartmental grant.
(f) "OASI" means old age survivor's insurance.
Sec. 204. The judicial branch shall not take disciplinary
action against an employee for communicating with a member of the
legislature or his or her staff.
Sec. 208. The reporting requirements of this act shall be
completed with the approval of, and at the direction of, the
supreme court, except as otherwise provided in this act. The
judicial branch shall use the Internet to fulfill the reporting
requirements of this act. This may include transmission of reports
via electronic mail to the recipients identified for each reporting
requirement, or it may include placement of reports on an Internet
or Intranet site.
Sec. 212. The judicial branch shall receive and retain copies
of all reports funded from appropriations in part 1. Federal and
state guidelines for short-term and long-term retention of records
shall be followed. The judicial branch may electronically retain
copies of reports unless otherwise required by federal and state
guidelines.
Sec. 214. Funds appropriated in part 1 shall not be used for
the purchase of foreign goods or services, or both, if
competitively priced and of comparable quality American goods or
services, or both, are available. Preference shall be given to
goods or services, or both, manufactured or provided by Michigan
businesses, if they are competitively priced and of comparable
quality. In addition, preference shall be given to goods or
services, or both, that are manufactured or provided by Michigan
businesses owned and operated by veterans, if they are
competitively priced and of comparable quality.
Sec. 215. Not later than January 1 of each year, the state
court administrative office shall prepare a travel report listing
all travel by judicial branch employees outside this state in the
immediately preceding fiscal year that was funded in whole or in
part with funds appropriated in the budget for the judicial branch.
The report shall be submitted to the senate and house of
representatives standing committees on appropriations, the senate
and house fiscal agencies, and the state budget director. The
report shall include the following information:
(a) The dates of each travel occurrence.
(b) The total transportation and related costs of each travel
occurrence, including the proportion funded with state general
fund/general purpose revenues, the proportion funded with state
restricted revenues, the proportion funded with federal revenues,
and the proportion funded with other revenues.
Sec. 219. Not later than November 30, the state budget office
shall prepare and transmit a report that provides for estimates of
the total general fund/general purpose appropriation lapses at the
close of the prior fiscal year. This report shall summarize the
projected year-end general fund/general purpose appropriation
lapses by major program or program areas. The report shall be
transmitted to the chairpersons of the senate and house
appropriations committees and the senate and house fiscal agencies.
Sec. 221. From the funds appropriated in part 1, the judicial
branch shall develop, post, and maintain, on a user-friendly and
publicly accessible Internet site, all expenditures made by the
judicial branch within a fiscal year. The posting shall include the
purpose for which each expenditure is made. The judicial branch
shall not provide financial information on its website under this
section if doing so would violate a federal or state law, rule,
regulation, or guideline that establishes privacy or security
standards applicable to that financial information.
Sec. 222. Within 14 days after the release of the executive
budget recommendation, the judicial branch shall cooperate with the
state budget office to provide the senate and house appropriations
chairs, the senate and house appropriations subcommittee chairs,
and the senate and house fiscal agencies with an annual report on
estimated state restricted fund balances, state restricted fund
projected revenues, and state restricted fund expenditures for the
fiscal years ending September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2014.
Sec. 223. The judiciary shall maintain, on a publicly
accessible website, a scorecard that identifies, tracks, and
regularly updates key metrics that are used to monitor and improve
the judiciary's performance.
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Sec. 301. Pursuant to the appropriations in part 1, the direct
trial court automation support program of the state court
administrative office shall recover direct and overhead costs from
trial courts by charging for services rendered. The fee shall cover
the actual costs incurred to the direct trial court automation
support program in providing the service, including development of
future versions of case management systems.
Sec. 302. Funds appropriated within the judicial branch shall
not be expended by any component within the judicial branch without
the approval of the supreme court.
Sec. 303. Of the amount appropriated in part 1 for the
judicial branch, $325,000.00 is allocated for circuit court
reimbursement under section 3 of 1978 PA 16, MCL 800.453, and
$186,900.00 is allocated for court of claims reimbursement under
section 6413 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236,
MCL 600.6413.
Sec. 306. The supreme court and the state court administrative
office shall continue to maintain, as a priority, the assisting of
local trial courts in improving the collection of judgments.
Sec. 308. If sufficient funds are not available from the court
fee fund to pay judges' compensation, the difference between the
appropriated amount from that fund for judges' compensation and the
actual amount available after the amount appropriated for trial
court reimbursement is made shall be appropriated from the state
general fund for judges' compensation.
Sec. 309. By April 1, the state court administrative office
shall provide an update on the status of the mental health courts
to the state budget director, the senate and house appropriations
subcommittees on the judiciary, and the senate and house fiscal
agencies.
Sec. 310. From the funds appropriated in part 1 for drug
treatment court programs, with the approval of and at the
discretion of the supreme court, the state court administrative
office shall evaluate and collect data on the performance of drug
treatment court programs. The state court administrative office
shall provide an annual review of the performance of drug courts as
prescribed in section 1078(6) of the revised judicature act of
1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.1078. Both of the following apply to
that annual review:
(a) It shall include measures of the impact of drug court
programs in changing offender criminal involvement (recidivism) and
substance abuse and in reducing prison admissions.
(b) It shall be completed no later than April 1 of each year
and shall also be provided to the senate and house appropriations
subcommittees on the judiciary, the senate and house fiscal
agencies, and the state budget director.
Sec. 311. (1) The funds appropriated in part 1 for drug
treatment courts shall be administered by the state court
administrative office to operate drug treatment court programs. A
drug treatment court shall be responsible for handling cases
involving substance abusing nonviolent offenders through
comprehensive supervision, testing, treatment services, and
immediate sanctions and incentives. A drug treatment court shall
use all available county and state personnel involved in the
disposition of cases including, but not limited to, parole and
probation agents, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and
community corrections providers. The funds may be used in
connection with other federal, state, and local funding sources.
(2) From the funds appropriated in part 1, the chief justice
shall allocate sufficient funds for the judicial institute to
provide in-state training for those identified in subsection (1),
including training for new drug treatment court judges.
(3) For drug treatment court grants, consideration for
priority may be given to those courts where higher instances of
substance abuse cases are filed.
(4) The judiciary shall receive $1,500,000.00 in Byrne formula
grant funding as an interdepartmental grant from the department of
state police to be used for expansion of drug treatment courts, to
assist in avoiding prison bed space growth for nonviolent offenders
in collaboration with the department of corrections.
Sec. 312. From the funds appropriated in part 1, the state
court administrator shall produce a statistical report regarding
the implementation of the parental rights restoration act, 1990 PA
211, MCL 722.901 to 722.908, as it pertains to minors seeking a
court-issued waiver of parental consent. The state court
administrative office shall report the total number of petitions
filed and the total number of petitions granted in accordance with
section 208.
Sec. 317. Funds appropriated in part 1 shall not be used for
the permanent assignment of state-owned vehicles to justices or
judges or any other judicial branch employee. This section does not
preclude the use of state-owned motor pool vehicles for state
business in accordance with approved guidelines.
Sec. 318. The funds appropriated in part 1 for the community
court pilot project shall be used for the purposes of administering
a pilot program of neighborhood-focused community courts. The state
court administrative office shall work collaboratively with the
designated courts when establishing the community courts.
Sec. 320. (1) From the funds appropriated in part 1 for the
swift and sure sanctions program, the state court administrative
office shall administer a program to distribute grants to
qualifying courts in accordance with the objectives and
requirements of the probation swift and sure sanctions act. Of the
$6,000,000.00 designated for the program, not more than $100,000.00
shall be available to the state court administrative office to pay
for employee costs associated with the administration of the
program funds. Courts interested in participating in the swift-and-
sure sanctions program may apply to the state court administrative
office for a portion of the funds appropriated in part 1 under this
section.
(2) By April 1, a court that receives funding under this
section shall provide a report on the program to the state budget
director, the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on the
judiciary, and the senate and house fiscal agencies. The report
shall include all of the following:
(a) The number of offenders who participate in the program.
(b) The criminal history of offenders who participate in the
program.
(c) The recidivism rate of offenders who participate in the
program, including the rate of return to jail, prison, or both.
(d) A detailed description of the establishment and parameters
of the program.
(3) As used in this section, "program" means a swift-and-sure
sanctions program.
Sec. 321. It is the intent of the legislature that the
judicial branch support a statewide legal self-help Internet
website and local nonprofit self-help centers that use the
statewide website to provide assistance to individuals representing
themselves in civil legal proceedings. The state court
administrative office shall evaluate the effectiveness of the
website, summarize the costs of maintaining the website, estimate
the savings the website generates for the state court system, and
report this information to the legislature.
Sec. 322. If Byrne formula grant funding is awarded to the
state appellate defender, the state appellate defender office may
receive and expend Byrne formula grant funds in an amount not
exceeding $250,000.00 as an interdepartmental grant from the
department of state police. If the appellate defender appointed
under section 3 of the appellate defender act, 1978 PA 620, MCL
780.713, receives federal grant funding from the department of
justice in excess of the amount appropriated in part 1, the office
of appellate defender may receive and expend grant funds in an
amount not exceeding $300,000.00 as other federal grants.
Sec. 323. The state court administrative office shall provide
courts with a quarterly listing of out-of-state placements of
juveniles by each court. The state court administrative office
shall also provide each judge who hears juvenile matters with the
annual listing of per diem costs of the public and private
residential care facilities located or doing business in this
state, and the recidivism data for each facility, if available, as
provided by the department of human services. The courts shall
acknowledge receipt of this information.
PART 2A
PROVISIONS CONCERNING ANTICIPATED APPROPRIATIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015
GENERAL SECTIONS
Sec. 1201. It is the intent of the legislature to provide
appropriations for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2015 for
the line items listed in part 1. The fiscal year 2014-2015
appropriations are anticipated to be the same as those for fiscal
year 2013-2014, except that the line items will be adjusted for
changes in caseload and related costs, federal fund match rates,
economic factors, and available revenue. These adjustments will be
determined after the January 2014 consensus revenue estimating
conference.
Sec. 1202. It is the intent of the legislature that the
judicial branch identify the amounts for normal retirement costs
and legacy retirement costs for the fiscal year ending on September
30, 2015 for the line items listed in part 1.