00 HOUSE BILL NO. 119                                                                                                      
01 "An Act raising the limit on small claims actions to $10,000; and providing for                                         
02 an effective date."                                                                                                     
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 22.15.040(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
05  (a)  When a claim for relief does not exceed $10,000, [$5,000] exclusive of                                         
06 costs, interest, and attorney fees, and request is so made, the district judge or                                       
07 magistrate shall hear the action as a small claim unless important or unusual points of                                 
08 law are involved or the state is a defendant.  The supreme court shall prescribe the                                    
09 procedural rules and standard forms to assure simplicity and the expeditious handling                                   
10 of small claims.                                                                                                        
11    * Sec. 2.  AS 22.15.120(a) is amended to read:                                                                       
12  (a)  A magistrate shall preside only in cases and proceedings under                                                   
13 AS 22.15.040, 22.15.100, and 22.15.110, and as follows:                                                                 
14   (1)  for the recovery of money or damages only when the amount                                                       
01 claimed, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees, does not exceed $10,000                                     
02 [$5,000];                                                                                                               
03   (2)  for the recovery of specific personal property when the value of the                                            
04 property claimed and the damages for the detention do not exceed $10,000 [$5,000];                                    
05   (3)  for the recovery of a penalty or forfeiture, whether given by statute                                           
06 or arising out of contract, not exceeding $10,000 [$5,000];                                                           
07   (4)  to give judgment without action upon the confession of the                                                      
08 defendant for any of the cases specified in this section, except for a penalty or                                       
09 forfeiture imposed by statute;                                                                                          
10   (5)  to give judgment of conviction upon a plea of guilty or no contest                                              
11 by the defendant in a criminal proceeding within the jurisdiction of the district court;                                
12   (6)  to hear, try, and enter judgments in all cases involving                                                        
13 misdemeanors that are not minor offenses if the defendant consents in writing that the                                  
14 magistrate may try the case;                                                                                            
15   (7)  to hear, try, and enter judgments in all cases involving minor                                                  
16 offenses and violations of ordinances of political subdivisions;                                                        
17   (8)  for the extradition of fugitives as authorized under AS 12.70;                                                  
18   (9)  to provide post-conviction relief under the Alaska Rules of Criminal                                            
19 Procedure for any of the cases specified in (5), (6), or (7) of this subsection if the                                  
20 conviction occurred in the district court [;                                                                            
21    (10)  REPEALED].                                                                                                    
22    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect July 1, 1997.