JBC rejects courthouse furnishings request and approves probation services technical adjustments

Amanda Bickel, JBC staff, presented the Judicial Department supplemental requests, including courthouse furnishings to outfit courtrooms and chambers tied to newly created judgeships. Staff recommended a trimmed appropriation of $1.2 million; members debated whether counties or the state should provide furnishings and the state’s responsibility for IT and courtroom furniture. Senator Kirkmeyer and others urged pushing costs to counties; Kirkmeyer said courtroom furnishings historically fall to counties while state should limit its exposure.

A motion to approve the staff recommendation for courthouse furnishings failed on a 1–4 roll call (with Taggart excused). Committee members objecting said they preferred to deny the supplemental immediately and address the matter in figure setting or require counties to pick up more of the cost; others noted the practical problem of hiring new judges without providing necessary desks and workspace.

On offender treatment and services (C&PS 2), staff recommended against a midyear adjustment because expenditures and revenue to the offender services fund have fluctuated and data systems are insufficient to show a new demand for funds; the committee approved the staff recommendation 5–0 with Taggart excused. The committee also supported a staff-initiated, term-limited cash-funded FTE to begin judicial security planning earlier than requested, with a proposal to revisit funding in several years.