This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2019.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 95

Author: Committee on Budget

Amended: 6/10/19 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: 16-0, 6/12/19

AYES: Mitchell, Nielsen, Beall, Durazo, Hurtado, Jones, Leyva, McGuire, Monning, Moorlach, Morrell, Roth, Skinner, Stone, Umberg, Wieckowski

NO VOTE RECORDED: Pan, Stern

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Not relevant

SUBJECT: Courts

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill provides for statutory changes to enact the courts-related provisions of the Budget Act of 2019.

ANALYSIS: This bill, as part of the 2019-20 Budget package, makes statutory changes to implement the Budget Act.

1. Judgeships. Allocates 25 of the remaining 48 trial court judgeships effective in the 2019–20 fiscal year, thereby reducing the total number of judgeships yet to be allocated to 23. Existing law, upon appropriation by the Legislature, requires 100 additional new judges to be provided for and allocated to the various county superior courts pursuant to an appointment schedule that has a total number of 48 judges yet to be allocated. The Budget provides $30.4 million General Fund in 2019-20 and $36.5 million General Fund in 2020-21 and ongoing to allocate 25 of the 48 remaining trial court judgeships authorized by AB 159 (Jones, Chapter 722, Statutes of 2007).
2. Trial Court Reserves. Increases the cap on trial court reserves from one percent to three percent. Concludes a trial court’s authority to carry over one percent of unexpended funds on June 30, 2019. Authorizes, commencing June 30, 2020, a trial court to carry over unexpended funds in an amount not to exceed three percent of the court’s operating budget from the prior year, excluding the same specified revenue from the calculation of that percentage as previously authorized.

Since 2014, trial courts have been restricted to carrying over one percent or less in reserves from the prior year operating budget. In 2018-19, this equals approximately $27 million statewide. Increasing the cap enables courts to retain funding to cover immediate costs for budgeted expenses such as payroll and other ongoing operating expenses in the event of an unanticipated one-time disruption in funding, giving courts the flexibility to address local needs that are unique to certain jurisdictions, and allowing courts to adjust to mid-year cost changes.

1. Data Analytics and Futures Commission IT Directives. Makes an appropriation of $5.5 million General Fund to the Judicial Council to provide funding to implement technology solutions related to business intelligence and data analytics and makes this amount available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2021. Specific initiatives include evaluating and implementing a pilot program for new technology solutions, including intelligent chat, video remote hearings, natural language voice-to-text translation services, and business intelligence/data analytics using identity management, with the plan of expanding these programs for availability to ail judicial branch entities. This program directly supports delivery of three of the Futures Commission recommendations, as directed by the Chief Justice, as well as Judicial Council Technology Committee workload for data analytics and business intelligence.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/11/19)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/11/19)

None received

Prepared by: Christopher Francis / B. & F.R. / 916-651-4103

6/14/19 11:23:04

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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 95

Author:(Ting)

As Introduced Ver:December 3, 2018

Majority vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately

SUMMARY:

This bill expresses the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2019.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS:

According to the Author:

Arguments in Support:

Arguments in Opposition:

FISCAL COMMENTS:

VOTES:

UPDATED:

VERSION: December 3, 2018

CONSULTANT: Christian Griffith / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099 FN: 0000138

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW

Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular

Bill No: AB 95 Hearing Date: June 12, 2019

Subject: Courts

Summary:

Provides for statutory changes to enact the courts-related provisions of the Budget Act of 2019.

Background:

As part of the 2019-20 budget package, AB 95 makes statutory changes to implement the budget act.

Proposed Law:

This bill makes the following statutory changes:

1. Judgeships: Allocates 25 of the remaining 48 trial court judgeships effective in the 2019–20 fiscal year, thereby reducing the total number of judgeships yet to be allocated to 23. Existing law, upon appropriation by the Legislature, requires 100 additional new judges to be provided for and allocated to the various county superior courts pursuant to an appointment schedule that has a total number of 48 judges yet to be allocated. The budget provides $30.4 million General Fund in 2019-20 and $36.5 million General Fund in 2020-21 and ongoing to allocate 25 of the 48 remaining trial court judgeships authorized by AB 159 (Jones), Chapter 722, Statutes of 2007.
2. Trial Court Reserves: Increases the cap on trial court reserves from one percent to three percent. Concludes a trial court’s authority to carry over one percent of unexpended funds on June 30, 2019. Authorizes, commencing June 30, 2020, a trial court to carry over unexpended funds in an amount not to exceed three percent of the court’s operating budget from the prior year, excluding the same specified revenue from the calculation of that percentage as previously authorized.

Since 2014, trial courts have been restricted to carrying over one percent or less in reserves from the prior year operating budget. In 2018-19, this equals approximately $27 million statewide. Increasing the cap enables courts to retain funding to cover immediate costs for budgeted expenses such as payroll and other ongoing operating expenses in the event of an unanticipated one-time disruption in funding, giving courts the flexibility to address local needs that are unique to certain jurisdictions, and allowing courts to adjust to mid-year cost changes.

1. Data Analytics and Futures Commission IT Directives: Makes an appropriation of $5.5 million General Fund to the Judicial Council to provide funding to implement technology solutions related to business intelligence and data analytics and makes this amount available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2021. Specific initiatives include evaluating and implementing a pilot program for new technology solutions, including intelligent chat, video remote hearings, natural language voice-to-text translation services, and business intelligence/data analytics using identity management, with the plan of expanding these programs for availability to ail judicial branch entities. This program directly supports delivery of three of the Futures Commission recommendations, as directed by the Chief Justice, as well as Judicial Council Technology Committee workload for data analytics and business intelligence.

Fiscal Effect:

The funding related to the changes in this bill is contained in the 2019-20 budget act.

Support:

None on file.

Opposed:

None on file.

Comments:

This bill provides the necessary statutory changes to enact the 2019-20 budget related to the judicial branch.

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