BILL NUMBER: S2092
SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the uniform justice court act, in relation to the mone-
tary jurisdiction of justice courts
 
PURPOSE:
Increased the monetary jurisdiction of the justice courts from $3,000 to
$15,000.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends language in various sections of the Uniform
Justice Court Act to reflect increasing the monetary jurisdiction of
justice courts from $3,000 to $15,000.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The monetary jurisdiction for justice courts has not increased in over
forty years and litigants for suits over $3,000 must sue in Supreme
Court. The Supreme Court is the same court where multi-million dollar
cases are brought, thus the costs of litigation (depositions, filing
fees, etc.) will exceed the total amount of the damages sought in these
relatively small cases. By increasing the jurisdictional limits for
justice courts to $15,000, small claim cases can be resolved quickly and
efficiently in the local courts instead of the Supreme Court.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022 S.4551/A.6842; 2020 A7421; 2016 A10194.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.