SF0053 • 2024

Sixth judicial district-number of judges.

AN ACT relating to the judiciary; providing for an additional district judge for the sixth judicial district; specifying requirements for suitable facilities; providing an appropriation; authorizing positions; and providing for an effective date.

Budget

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Senator Landen
Last action: 2024-03-15
Official status: enrolled
Effective date: 7/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text does not specify that it authorizes four FTE positions, only that suitable facilities must include a courtroom with space for a twelve-person jury.

Adding a Judge to Sixth Judicial District

This law adds one more district judge for the Sixth Judicial District and provides funding and facilities.

What This Bill Does

Adds one additional district judge position in the Sixth Judicial District.
Provides biennial funding from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026 for salaries, benefits, office equipment, supplies, and fees.
Authorizes four full-time equivalent positions to support the new judge.
Requires suitable facilities including a courtroom with space for a twelve-person jury in the Sixth Judicial District.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in Campbell, Crook, and Weston Counties who will have access to an additional district judge.
The state government which must provide funding and facilities.

Terms To Know

Biennium: A period of two years used for budget planning by the government.
Full-time equivalent position (FTE): A measure that represents a full workload in terms of hours worked, but can be shared among multiple people.

Limits and Unknowns

The funding and positions are only for the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026.
It is not clear if there will be additional funding beyond this biennium.

Bill History

2024-03-15 LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 79
2024-03-15 Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0043
2024-03-07 House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0043
2024-03-07 Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0043
2024-03-06 LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0043
2024-03-06 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 56-6-0-0-0
2024-03-05 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2024-03-04 House
H COW:Passed
2024-03-04 House
H Placed on General File
2024-03-04 House
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0
2024-03-01 House
:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations
2024-03-01 House
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0
2024-02-28 House
H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary
2024-02-28 House
H Received for Introduction
2024-02-27 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-1-0-0-0
2024-02-26 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2024-02-23 Senate
S COW:Passed
2024-02-20 Senate
S Placed on General File
2024-02-20 Senate
S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2024-02-16 Senate
:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations
2024-02-16 Senate
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2024-02-14 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary 28-3-0-0-0
2024-01-24 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2024-01-17 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 24LSO-0438

Bill No.:

SF0053

Effective:

7/1/2024

LSO No.:

24LSO-0438

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0043

Chapter No.:

79

Prime Sponsor:

Landen

Catch Title:

Sixth judicial district-number of judges.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Authorizing an additional district judge in the Sixth Judicial District and associated funding.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act authorizes one (1) additional district judge position in the Sixth Judicial District (Campbell, Crook, and Weston Counties).

The act provides biennial funding and positions for the new district judge position.

The act requires that suitable judicial facilities be provided in the Sixth Judicial District for the new judge.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0438

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0053

ENROLLED ACT NO. 43,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2024 Budget Session

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 5
‑
3
‑
102(a) is amended to read:

5
‑
3
‑
102.

Number of judges; distribution among districts; concurrent jurisdiction; judicial conference to adopt rules.

(a)

There shall be two (2) judges of the district court in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth judicial districts, three (3) judges of the district court in the
sixth and
ninth judicial
districts
district
and four (4) judges of the district court in the first, third
, sixth
and seventh judicial districts. In the second judicial district, one (1) judge shall reside in Albany county and one (1) shall reside in Carbon county. In the third judicial district two (2) judges shall reside in Sweetwater county. In the fourth judicial district, one (1) judge shall reside in Sheridan county and one (1) shall reside in Johnson county. In the ninth judicial district one (1) judge shall reside in Fremont county, one (1) judge shall reside in Teton county and one (1) judge shall reside in Sublette county. All district judges in the state shall have concurrent jurisdiction throughout the state and for purposes of assignment, shall have concurrent jurisdiction throughout the state with all circuit court judges.

Section 2
.

(a)

There is appropriated from the general fund to the sixth judicial district court one million two hundred forty thousand seven hundred twenty
‑
eight dollars ($1,240,728.00) for purposes of funding the additional district judge authorized in this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026 and shall only be expended for salaries, benefits, office equipment, supplies and fees necessary to implement the office of the sixth judicial district court judge in the sixth judicial district authorized in section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2026.

(b)

There are authorized four (4) full
‑
time equivalent positions, one (1) of which shall be the judge authorized in section 1 of this act, for the sixth judicial district court for personnel necessary to staff and support the additional district judge for the sixth judicial district authorized by this act for the biennium beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026.

(c)

Suitable facilities for the additional district judge for the sixth judicial district authorized in this act shall be provided in the sixth judicial district. Suitable facilities shall include a suitable courtroom to accommodate a twelve (12) person jury, offices and other necessary auxiliary facilities.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk