SB15-089 Summary

• Counties currently bear fiscal responsibility for providing and maintaining adequate courtrooms and court facilities, but the bill gradually shifts this cost to the state beginning in fiscal year 2016-17.

• 34 rural counties receive state contributions starting at 20% of certified fair market value rent in 2016-17, increasing by 20 percentage points annually until reaching 100% in 2020-21 and thereafter.

• 27 more populous counties receive state contributions starting at 10% of certified fair market value rent in 2017-18, increasing by 10 percentage points annually until reaching 100% in 2026-27 and thereafter.

• Counties must annually report fair market value rent for judicial department facilities to the state controller by June 1, with the state property tax administrator certifying calculations before state payments are made.

• After the state assumes complete fiscal responsibility for a county's court facilities, the state may negotiate to acquire the property from the county instead of continuing rent payments.