This bill creates the Collections and Housing Court.
This bill:
- establishes the Collections and Housing Court (court);
- addresses the postjudgment interest rate of the court;
- addresses retention elections for judges of the court, including the ballot language for a retention election;
- adds a judge of the court to the definition of "public official" with respect to gifts;
- addresses the salary of the judge of the court;
- establishes the court as a court of record;
- provides that the court is not geographically divided into districts;
- provides that the court consists of one judge;
- amends the membership of the Judicial Council to include a member of the court;
- allows the presiding officer of the Judicial Council to assign a judge of the court to serve in the district court if the assignment does not interfere with actions before the Collections and Housing Court;
- amends provisions regarding the administration of the courts to address the creation of the court;
- addresses a judicial hiring freeze for judges of the court;
- amends the jurisdiction of the district court to allow a district court judge to preside over an action of the court for purposes of disqualification and recusal;
- defines terms related to the court;
- provides that the court is a trial court with statewide jurisdiction;
- addresses the organization and status of the court;
- addresses the jurisdiction of the court;
- addresses the administration of the court, including: the terms for judges of the court; the presiding judge and associate presiding judge of the court; and staff and management of the court;
- addresses the location and facilities of the court;
- addresses the selection process for judges of the court, including the creation of the Collections and Housing Court Nominating Commission;
- makes changes to provisions regarding judgments, mileage, and lis pendens to address the creation of the court; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.