SENATE BILL NO. 58 "An Act increasing the number of superior court judges designated for the third judicial district; and providing for an effective date." 11:41:01 AM DOUG WOOLIVER, ADMINISTRATIVE ATTORNEY, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM, explained the legislation. He reported that SB 58 had been introduced by request of the Alaska Supreme Court. The bill would add two new superior court judges in Anchorage to hear the increasing number of civil cases. There were several types of cases that were increasing the workload: child in need of aid cases and family law cases. In addition, he identified a significant amount of complex business litigation cases in Anchorage. He discussed that the courts had changed the way they looked at family law cases. Reunification was now the preferred outcome in child in need of aid cases. The outcome takes more time and hearings. He furthered that family law cases had changed over the years. He pointed to a significant increase in self-representation and the importance of considering domestic violence in child custody cases. He delineated that in over 66 percent of family law cases one party was unrepresented. The people had a right to be in court and were a very important part of the court system's constituency. The cases took a lot of time, were less organized, and significantly increased the workload. He detailed that the importance of domestic violence in child custody cases was elevated in statute. Judges spend much more time considering domestic violence in child custody cases. Mr. Wooliver added that Anchorage had the largest business and financial center in the state. The majority of business litigation cases, including high-profile cases, took place in Anchorage. The cases were "enormously" important and time consuming. He offered that the additional judges were the court system's highest priority. 11:46:43 AM Co-Chair Stoltze OPENED public testimony. QUINLAN STEINER, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), was available for questions and did not have a position on the legislation. He explained that if the judges were added the agency would experience increased workloads. Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. Vice-chair Fairclough discussed the fiscal notes. She identified a new fiscal note in the amount of $1,015.6 million from the Court System in FY 2012 that related to the cost of two new judges. She noted a $425.2 million capital expenditure. She identified FN 2 (CRT) for the Alaska Judicial Council, appropriating $23.2 thousand in FY 2012 for the selection process. She referenced FN 3 (ADM) which appropriated $232.4 million in FY 2012 for the Public Defender Agency. The fiscal note was necessary to cover increased costs related to the anticipated additional case load. Representative Wilson inquired about the second fiscal note. She wondered why the workload would increase if additional judges were added. Mr. Wooliver replied that it was more work for the Judicial Council. The additional vacancies required more meetings, work, and travel for the council. Vice-chair Fairclough noted that the Judicial Council expenses dropped down to $1.9 thousand the following years. She directed attention to FN 4 (ADM). She communicated that $232.4 thousand was appropriated in FY 2012 to the Office of Public Advocacy for an additional attorney and law assistant. 11:52:09 AM Vice-chair Fairclough continued with FN 7 (LAW) in the amount of $225 thousand each year through FY 2017. She explained that the bill added a full time attorney, and half time support position to the [Anchorage] Child Protection Section. She noted that FN 8 (GOV) (Division of Elections), FN 9 (COR) (Administrative Services), and FN 10 (DPS) (Alaska State Troopers) had zero fiscal impact. Vice-chair Fairclough MOVED to report SB 58 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. SB 58 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with new fiscal impact note by the Court System and previously published fiscal notes: FN 2 (CRT), FN 3 (ADM), FN 4 (ADM), FN 7 (LAW), FN 8 (GOV), FN 9 (COR), and FN 10 (DPS).