NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.





F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR   Pederson           DATE TYPED  02/10/99 HB  443           



SHORT TITLE   Magistrate Court Mediation Program        SB                 



                                                   ANALYST  O'Connell      





REVENUE



   Estimated Revenue    Subsequent Recurring Fund

FY98 FY00 Years Impact or Non-Rec Affected



$       .  $    100.0* $    100.0*   Recurring       Mag.Mediation



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)



*Estimated by Administrative Office of the Courts



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Administrative Office of the Courts analysis

LFC files



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 443 increases the docketing fee for civil cases in magistrate courts by $5.00 for the purpose of funding voluntary mediation programs in the magistrate courts. The fees collected would go into a newly created "magistrate court mediation fund" and would be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts. All funds would be subject to appropriation to magistrate courts for their mediation programs.



Significant Issues



Mediation offers the public a quick, non-adversarial way of resolving civil disputes. Implementation of this program could help alleviate a serious and time-consuming caseload for magistrate courts statewide.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



AOC estimates that the increase in docketing fees would generate approximately $100.0 annually in non-reverting funds for the administration of the program. This figure is based on an estimated 20,000 civil cases filed in the magistrate courts yearly.



BWO/njw