BILL NUMBER: S549
SPONSOR: STEC
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the family court act, in relation to establishing a
separate office of judge of the family court for the county of Essex
 
PURPOSE:
This bill provides for the establishment of a separate office of family
court judge for the county of Essex.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends section 131 of the family court act by adding a new subdivision
(w) where there shall be a separate office of judge of the family court
for the county of Essex and the compensation payable for such separate
office of judge of the family court shall be the same as the compen-
sation payable to the judge of the county court of the county of Essex.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In Essex County, one full-time judge presides over six courts, including
serving as a full-time Family Court judge. In 2021, the Essex County
family court handled 961 new cases and 2,942 appearances. In 2022, the
family court grappled with 883 new cases and more than 2,700 appear-
ances.
These caseloads more than justify in a separate office of a full time
family court judge in Essex County.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/2024: Referred to Judiciary; A3086 referred to Judiciary
2021/2022: S4721 referred to Judiciary; A4921 referred to Judiciary*
2020/2019: S2023 referred to Judiciary; A4656 referred to Judiciary
2018/2017: S6870 referred to Finance; A8692 referred to Judiciary
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The compensation payable for this separate office of judge of the family
court shall be the same as the compensation payable to the judge of the
county court of the county of Essex.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
January 1, 2024.