Drafter
Clerk 04/06/2017
Title
AN ORDINANCE increasing district court small claims court surcharge to the state statutory limit; and amending Ordinance 12214, Section 2, and K.C.C. 4A.634.020.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. In 1984 the Washington state Legislature adopted the Court Improvement Act of 1984, which, in part, established the goal of creating a system of dispute resolution centers statewide.
2. With the adoption of the Court Improvement Act of 1984, the statewide goal was to establish dispute resolution centers to provide alternative dispute resolution, mediation and training services. Those centers are mandated to provide services independent of a clients' ability to pay, guaranteeing that all citizens have access to a low-cost resolution process in lieu of more costly civil litigation or when mediation can bring about a better outcome.
3. King County has the King County Dispute Resolution Center, which is one of the twenty dispute resolution centers statewide. The Dispute Resolution Center of King County is a nonprofit organization that has provided affordable mediation and conflict resolution services for individuals, businesses, and families in King County since 1986. The center uses professional mediators from the community who volunteer their time to help us solve over one thousand disputes each year. Using volunteer mediators helps the center to keep the cost of providing services low to ensure greater access to a low-cost resolution process.
4. For the purpose of funding dispute resolution centers, chapter 7.75 RCW allows the county legislative authority to impose a surcharge of up to ten dollars on each civil filing fee in district court and a surcharge of up to fifteen dollars on each filing fee for small claims actions. Surcharges are collected by the clerk of the court and remitted to the county treasurer for deposit in a separate account used solely for the dispute resolution centers.
5. In 1991, the county established: a surch...
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