2006 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1400 – Small claims/allowable claim/raised

SENATE BILL NO. 1400

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S1400aa..............................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
SMALL CLAIMS - Amends existing law relating to the small claims department
of the magistrate division of the district court to increase the allowable
claim to $5,000 for specified civil proceedings assigned to magistrates; to
increase the allowable claims to $5,000 for certain civil actions assigned
to nonattorney magistrates; to increase the allowable claim to $5,000 in
cases under jurisdiction of the small claims department; and to provide for
collection of attorney's fees and costs by a prevailing plaintiff.
                                                                        
02/14    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/15    Rpt prt - to Jud
02/20    Rpt out - to 14th Ord
02/28    Rpt out amen - to engros
03/01    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/02    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/06    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 33-0-2
      AYES -- Andreason, Brandt, Broadsword, Bunderson, Burkett,
      Burtenshaw, Cameron, Coiner, Compton, Corder, Darrington, Davis,
      Fulcher, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde, Hill, Jorgenson, Kelly, Keough,
      Langhorst, Little, Lodge, Marley, McGee, McKenzie, Pearce,
      Richardson, Schroeder, Stegner, Sweet, Werk, Williams
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Malepeai, Stennett
    Floor Sponsor - Corder
    Title apvd - to House
03/07    House intro - 1st rdg - to Jud
03/14    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/15    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/23    3rd rdg - PASSED - 61-1-8
      AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barraclough, Bastian, Bayer, Bell, Bilbao,
      Block, Boe, Bolz, Brackett, Bradford, Cannon, Chadderdon, Clark,
      Collins, Denney, Ellsworth, Field(18), Field(23), Garrett, Hart,
      Harwood, Henbest, Henderson, Jaquet, Kemp, Lake, LeFavour,
      Loertscher, Martinez, Mathews, McGeachin, McKague, Miller, Mitchell,
      Moyle, Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Pence, Raybould, Ring, Ringo,
      Roberts, Rusche, Rydalch, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(2), Shepherd(8),
      Shirley, Skippen, Smith(30), Smith(24), Smylie, Stevenson, Trail,
      Wills, Wood, Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- Barrett
      Absent and excused -- Bedke, Black, Crow, Deal, Edmunson, Eskridge,
      Sali, Snodgrass
    Floor Sponsor - Clark
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/24    To enrol
03/27    Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/28    Sp signed
03/29    To Governor
03/30    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 263
         Effective: 07/01/06

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1400
                                                                        
                              BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE MAGISTRATE DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT  AND  TO  THE  SMALL
  3        CLAIMS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  MAGISTRATE DIVISION; AMENDING SECTION 1-2208,
  4        IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE CLAIM LIMIT TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
  5        FOR SPECIFIED CIVIL PROCEEDINGS ASSIGNED TO MAGISTRATES; AMENDING  SECTION
  6        1-2210, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE CLAIM LIMIT TO FIVE THOUSAND
  7        DOLLARS  FOR  CERTAIN  CIVIL ACTIONS ASSIGNED TO NON-ATTORNEY MAGISTRATES;
  8        AMENDING SECTION 1-2301, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE  ALLOWABLE  CLAIM  TO
  9        FIVE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  CASES  UNDER JURISDICTION OF THE SMALL CLAIMS
 10        DEPARTMENT; AMENDING SECTION 1-2310, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION
 11        OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS BY A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF AFTER A  TIME  CER-
 12        TAIN;  AMENDING SECTION 1-2311, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY'S
 13        FEE AWARDED TO THE PREVAILING PARTY SHALL BE A REASONABLE AMOUNT AS DETER-
 14        MINED BY THE COURT; AND AMENDING SECTION 39-6316, IDAHO CODE, TO  INCREASE
 15        THE  ALLOWABLE  LIMIT  REFERRED  TO IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO FIVE THOUSAND
 16        DOLLARS.
                                                                        
 17    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 18        SECTION 1.  That Section 1-2208, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 19    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 20        1-2208.  ASSIGNMENT  OF CASES TO MAGISTRATES. Subject to rules promulgated
 21    by the supreme court, the administrative judge in each  judicial  district  or
 22    any  district  judge  in  the  district designated by him may assign to magis-
 23    trates, severally, or by designation of office, or by  class  or  category  of
 24    cases, or in specific instances the following matters:
 25        (1)  Civil proceedings as follows:
 26        (a)  When the amount of money or damages or the value of personal property
 27        claimed does not exceed four five thousand dollars ($45,000):
 28             (i)   Actions  for  the  recovery  of money only arising on contracts
 29             express or implied; actions for damages for injury to  person,  prop-
 30             erty  or  reputation or for taking or detaining personal property, or
 31             for fraud;
 32             (ii)  Actions for rent and distress for rent;
 33             (iii) Actions for claim and delivery;
 34             (iv)  Proceedings in attachment, garnishment, wage deductions for the
 35             benefit of creditors, trial or right of personal property and  exemp-
 36             tions, and supplementary proceedings;
 37             (v)   Actions  arising under the laws for the incorporation of cities
 38             or counties or any ordinance passed in pursuance thereof; actions for
 39             the confiscation or abatement of nuisances and the seizure, condemna-
 40             tion and forfeiture of personal property; proceedings in  respect  of
 41             estrays and lost property;
 42             (vi)  Actions to collect taxes.
 43        (b)  Proceedings  in  forcible  entry,  forcible  detainer,  and  unlawful
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        detainer; and
  2        (c)  Proceedings  for  the  enforcement  and foreclosure of common law and
  3        statutory liens of not to exceed four five thousand dollars  ($45,000)  on
  4        real or personal property.
  5        (2)  Proceedings  in the probate of wills and administration of estates of
  6    decedents, minors and incompetents.
  7        (3)  The following criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings:
  8        (a)  Misdemeanor and quasi-criminal actions;
  9        (b)  Proceedings to prevent the commission of crimes;
 10        (c)  Proceedings pertaining to warrants for arrest  or  for  searches  and
 11        seizures; and
 12        (d)  Proceedings  for  the  preliminary  examination to determine probable
 13        cause, commitment prior to trial or the release on bail of persons charged
 14        with criminal offenses.
 15        (4)  Any juvenile proceedings except those within the scope of the  provi-
 16    sions of section 1-2210, Idaho Code.
 17        (5)  Proceedings  under  the  Idaho  traffic  infractions act, chapter 15,
 18    title 49, Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 19        SECTION 2.  That Section 1-2210, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 20    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 21        1-2210.  ASSIGNMENTS  RESTRICTED TO MAGISTRATES WHO ARE ATTORNEYS. (1) The
 22    supreme court by rule may specify additional categories of matters  assignable
 23    to  magistrates, except that the following matters may not be assigned to mag-
 24    istrates who are not attorneys:
 25        (a)  Civil actions in which the amount of money or damages or the value of
 26        property claimed exceeds four five thousand dollars ($45,000),  except  as
 27        otherwise authorized by this act;
 28        (b)  Criminal  proceedings  in  which  the  maximum  authorized punishment
 29        exceeds the punishment authorized for misdemeanors;
 30        (c)  All proceedings involving the custody of minors and all habeas corpus
 31        proceedings;
 32        (d)  Proceedings for divorce, separate maintenance or annulment; and
 33        (e)  Proceedings in quo warranto, or for injunction,  prohibition,  manda-
 34        mus, ne exeat, or appointment of a receiver.
 35        (2)  The supreme court may assign an attorney magistrate to temporary ser-
 36    vice  on  the supreme court, except an attorney magistrate may not be assigned
 37    to hear cases in which the attorney magistrate participated, nor may an attor-
 38    ney magistrate be assigned to hear cases which originated in his or her  judi-
 39    cial district.
                                                                        
 40        SECTION  3.  That  Section  1-2301, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 41    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 42        1-2301.  SMALL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT -- CREATION -- SCOPE OF CLAIMS --  VENUE.
 43    In  every  magistrate's division of the district court of this state, the dis-
 44    trict court may  create  and  organize  a  "Small  Claims  Department  of  the
 45    Magistrate's  Division," which shall have jurisdiction in cases for the recov-
 46    ery of money where the amount of each claim does not exceed four five thousand
 47    dollars ($45,000), and in cases for the recovery of  personal  property  where
 48    the  value  of  the  property  does  not  exceed  four  five  thousand dollars
 49    ($45,000); provided however, that the small claims department shall not  award
 50    punitive  damages  or  damages  for  pain  or suffering in any proceeding. Any
 51    action brought in a small claims department of the magistrate's division shall
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    be brought in the magistrate's division in  the  county  where  the  defendant
  2    resides or the county where the cause of action arose. A defendant may request
  3    a change of venue if an action is brought in an improper county.
                                                                        
  4        SECTION  4.  That  Section  1-2310, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  5    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  6        1-2310.  JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDANT. If the judgment  or  order  shall  be
  7    against  the defendant, it shall be his duty to pay the same forthwith or exe-
  8    cution may ensue as in other cases. On and after sixty (60) days from the date
  9    judgment is rendered, the plaintiff shall be entitled to receive, in  addition
 10    to  the  amount  awarded  in  the judgment, attorney's fees and all documented
 11    costs associated with collection of the judgment.
                                                                        
 12        SECTION 5.  That Section 1-2311, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 13    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14        1-2311.  APPEAL  TO  LAWYER MAGISTRATE. If either party is dissatisfied he
 15    may, within thirty (30) days from the entry  of  said  judgment  against  him,
 16    appeal to a lawyer magistrate other than the magistrate who entered said judg-
 17    ment;  and if the final judgment is rendered against him by such lawyer magis-
 18    trate, then he shall  pay,  in  addition  to  any  judgment  rendered  in  the
 19    magistrate's division, an attorney's fee to the prevailing party in the sum of
 20    twenty-five  dollars  ($25.00) a reasonable amount as determined by the court,
 21    provided, however, that appeals from such small claims department  shall  only
 22    be allowed in such cases as appeals would be allowed if the action were insti-
 23    tuted  in  the  magistrate's division as is now provided, and further provided
 24    that the appeal shall be heard in the county wherein the original small  claim
 25    was filed.
                                                                        
 26        SECTION  6.  That  Section 39-6316, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 27    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 28        39-6316.  LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -- TRAINING, POWERS,  DUTIES.  (1)  All
 29    training  provided by the peace officers standards and training academy relat-
 30    ing to the handling of domestic violence complaints by law  enforcement  offi-
 31    cers  shall stress enforcement of criminal laws in domestic situations, avail-
 32    ability of community resources, and protection of the victim. Law  enforcement
 33    agencies  and  community organizations with expertise in the issue of domestic
 34    violence shall cooperate in all aspects of such training.
 35        (2)  When a peace officer responds to a domestic violence call, the  offi-
 36    cer  shall  give a written statement to victims which alerts the victim to the
 37    availability of a shelter or other resources in the community,  and  give  the
 38    victim a written notice provided by the Idaho state police substantially stat-
 39    ing the following:
 40             IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you can ask the city
 41        or county prosecuting attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also
 42        have  the  right to file a petition in magistrate court requesting an
 43        order for protection from domestic abuse which could include  any  of
 44        the following: (a) an order restraining your abuser from further acts
 45        of abuse; (b) an order directing your abuser to leave your household;
 46        (c) an  order  preventing  your  abuser from entering your residence,
 47        school, business, or place of employment; (d) an order  awarding  you
 48        or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or
 49        children;  and (e) an order restraining your abuser from molesting or
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1        interfering with minor children in your custody. The forms  you  need
  2        to  obtain    a  protection order are available from the clerk of the
  3        district court. The resources available in this community for  infor-
  4        mation  relating  to  domestic  violence,  treatment  of injuries and
  5        places of safety and shelters are: (For safety reasons, inclusion  of
  6        shelter/safe  house  addresses  is  not necessary). You also have the
  7        right to sue for losses suffered as a result of the abuse,  including
  8        medical  and  moving expenses, loss of earnings or support, and other
  9        out-of-pocket expenses for injuries  sustained  and  damage  to  your
 10        property.  This can be done without an attorney in small claims court
 11        if the total amount claimed is less than four five  thousand  dollars
 12        ($45,000).
 13        (3)  The  peace  officer  shall  make  every  effort to arrange, offer, or
 14    facilitate transportation for the victim to a hospital for treatment of  inju-
 15    ries or to a place of safety or shelter.
 16        (4)  The  law  enforcement  agency shall forward the offense report to the
 17    appropriate prosecutor within ten (10) days of making such report if there  is
 18    probable  cause to believe that an offense has been committed, unless the case
 19    is under active investigation.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Corder              
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Burkett             
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                             SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. NO. 1400
                                                                        
  1                                AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4
  2        On page 3 of the printed bill, in line 11, following  "judgment."  insert:
  3    "Such attorney's fees and costs shall be set by the court following the filing
  4    of  a  memorandum  of attorney's fees and costs with notice to all parties and
  5    hearing.".
                                                                        
  6                                AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL
  7        On page 3, delete lines 12 through 25; and in line 26, delete "SECTION  6"
  8    and insert: "SECTION 5".
                                                                        
  9                                 CORRECTIONS TO TITLE
 10        On page 1, in line 11, delete "AFTER A TIME CER-"; delete lines 12 through
 11    14 and insert: "; AND AMENDING SECTION 39-6316, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                              SENATE BILL NO. 1400, As Amended
                                                                        
                              BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE MAGISTRATE DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT  AND  TO  THE  SMALL
  3        CLAIMS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  MAGISTRATE DIVISION; AMENDING SECTION 1-2208,
  4        IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE CLAIM LIMIT TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
  5        FOR SPECIFIED CIVIL PROCEEDINGS ASSIGNED TO MAGISTRATES; AMENDING  SECTION
  6        1-2210, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE CLAIM LIMIT TO FIVE THOUSAND
  7        DOLLARS  FOR  CERTAIN  CIVIL ACTIONS ASSIGNED TO NON-ATTORNEY MAGISTRATES;
  8        AMENDING SECTION 1-2301, IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE  ALLOWABLE  CLAIM  TO
  9        FIVE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  CASES  UNDER JURISDICTION OF THE SMALL CLAIMS
 10        DEPARTMENT; AMENDING SECTION 1-2310, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION
 11        OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS BY A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF; AND AMENDING  SEC-
 12        TION  39-6316,  IDAHO CODE, TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT REFERRED TO IN
 13        SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
                                                                        
 14    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 15        SECTION 1.  That Section 1-2208, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 16    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 17        1-2208.  ASSIGNMENT  OF CASES TO MAGISTRATES. Subject to rules promulgated
 18    by the supreme court, the administrative judge in each  judicial  district  or
 19    any  district  judge  in  the  district designated by him may assign to magis-
 20    trates, severally, or by designation of office, or by  class  or  category  of
 21    cases, or in specific instances the following matters:
 22        (1)  Civil proceedings as follows:
 23        (a)  When the amount of money or damages or the value of personal property
 24        claimed does not exceed four five thousand dollars ($45,000):
 25             (i)   Actions  for  the  recovery  of money only arising on contracts
 26             express or implied; actions for damages for injury to  person,  prop-
 27             erty  or  reputation or for taking or detaining personal property, or
 28             for fraud;
 29             (ii)  Actions for rent and distress for rent;
 30             (iii) Actions for claim and delivery;
 31             (iv)  Proceedings in attachment, garnishment, wage deductions for the
 32             benefit of creditors, trial or right of personal property and  exemp-
 33             tions, and supplementary proceedings;
 34             (v)   Actions  arising under the laws for the incorporation of cities
 35             or counties or any ordinance passed in pursuance thereof; actions for
 36             the confiscation or abatement of nuisances and the seizure, condemna-
 37             tion and forfeiture of personal property; proceedings in  respect  of
 38             estrays and lost property;
 39             (vi)  Actions to collect taxes.
 40        (b)  Proceedings  in  forcible  entry,  forcible  detainer,  and  unlawful
 41        detainer; and
 42        (c)  Proceedings  for  the  enforcement  and foreclosure of common law and
 43        statutory liens of not to exceed four five thousand dollars  ($45,000)  on
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        real or personal property.
  2        (2)  Proceedings  in the probate of wills and administration of estates of
  3    decedents, minors and incompetents.
  4        (3)  The following criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings:
  5        (a)  Misdemeanor and quasi-criminal actions;
  6        (b)  Proceedings to prevent the commission of crimes;
  7        (c)  Proceedings pertaining to warrants for arrest  or  for  searches  and
  8        seizures; and
  9        (d)  Proceedings  for  the  preliminary  examination to determine probable
 10        cause, commitment prior to trial or the release on bail of persons charged
 11        with criminal offenses.
 12        (4)  Any juvenile proceedings except those within the scope of the  provi-
 13    sions of section 1-2210, Idaho Code.
 14        (5)  Proceedings  under  the  Idaho  traffic  infractions act, chapter 15,
 15    title 49, Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 16        SECTION 2.  That Section 1-2210, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 17    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 18        1-2210.  ASSIGNMENTS  RESTRICTED TO MAGISTRATES WHO ARE ATTORNEYS. (1) The
 19    supreme court by rule may specify additional categories of matters  assignable
 20    to  magistrates, except that the following matters may not be assigned to mag-
 21    istrates who are not attorneys:
 22        (a)  Civil actions in which the amount of money or damages or the value of
 23        property claimed exceeds four five thousand dollars ($45,000),  except  as
 24        otherwise authorized by this act;
 25        (b)  Criminal  proceedings  in  which  the  maximum  authorized punishment
 26        exceeds the punishment authorized for misdemeanors;
 27        (c)  All proceedings involving the custody of minors and all habeas corpus
 28        proceedings;
 29        (d)  Proceedings for divorce, separate maintenance or annulment; and
 30        (e)  Proceedings in quo warranto, or for injunction,  prohibition,  manda-
 31        mus, ne exeat, or appointment of a receiver.
 32        (2)  The supreme court may assign an attorney magistrate to temporary ser-
 33    vice  on  the supreme court, except an attorney magistrate may not be assigned
 34    to hear cases in which the attorney magistrate participated, nor may an attor-
 35    ney magistrate be assigned to hear cases which originated in his or her  judi-
 36    cial district.
                                                                        
 37        SECTION  3.  That  Section  1-2301, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 38    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 39        1-2301.  SMALL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT -- CREATION -- SCOPE OF CLAIMS --  VENUE.
 40    In  every  magistrate's division of the district court of this state, the dis-
 41    trict court may  create  and  organize  a  "Small  Claims  Department  of  the
 42    Magistrate's  Division," which shall have jurisdiction in cases for the recov-
 43    ery of money where the amount of each claim does not exceed four five thousand
 44    dollars ($45,000), and in cases for the recovery of  personal  property  where
 45    the  value  of  the  property  does  not  exceed  four  five  thousand dollars
 46    ($45,000); provided however, that the small claims department shall not  award
 47    punitive  damages  or  damages  for  pain  or suffering in any proceeding. Any
 48    action brought in a small claims department of the magistrate's division shall
 49    be brought in the magistrate's division in  the  county  where  the  defendant
 50    resides or the county where the cause of action arose. A defendant may request
 51    a change of venue if an action is brought in an improper county.
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1        SECTION  4.  That  Section  1-2310, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  2    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  3        1-2310.  JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDANT. If the judgment  or  order  shall  be
  4    against  the defendant, it shall be his duty to pay the same forthwith or exe-
  5    cution may ensue as in other cases. On and after sixty (60) days from the date
  6    judgment is rendered, the plaintiff shall be entitled to receive, in  addition
  7    to  the  amount  awarded  in  the judgment, attorney's fees and all documented
  8    costs associated with collection of the judgment.  Such  attorney's  fees  and
  9    costs shall be set by the court following the filing of a memorandum of attor-
 10    ney's fees and costs with notice to all parties and hearing.
                                                                        
 11        SECTION  5.  That  Section 39-6316, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 12    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 13        39-6316.  LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -- TRAINING, POWERS,  DUTIES.  (1)  All
 14    training  provided by the peace officers standards and training academy relat-
 15    ing to the handling of domestic violence complaints by law  enforcement  offi-
 16    cers  shall stress enforcement of criminal laws in domestic situations, avail-
 17    ability of community resources, and protection of the victim. Law  enforcement
 18    agencies  and  community organizations with expertise in the issue of domestic
 19    violence shall cooperate in all aspects of such training.
 20        (2)  When a peace officer responds to a domestic violence call, the  offi-
 21    cer  shall  give a written statement to victims which alerts the victim to the
 22    availability of a shelter or other resources in the community,  and  give  the
 23    victim a written notice provided by the Idaho state police substantially stat-
 24    ing the following:
 25             IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you can ask the city
 26        or county prosecuting attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also
 27        have  the  right to file a petition in magistrate court requesting an
 28        order for protection from domestic abuse which could include  any  of
 29        the following: (a) an order restraining your abuser from further acts
 30        of abuse; (b) an order directing your abuser to leave your household;
 31        (c) an  order  preventing  your  abuser from entering your residence,
 32        school, business, or place of employment; (d) an order  awarding  you
 33        or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or
 34        children;  and (e) an order restraining your abuser from molesting or
 35        interfering with minor children in your custody. The forms  you  need
 36        to  obtain    a  protection order are available from the clerk of the
 37        district court. The resources available in this community for  infor-
 38        mation  relating  to  domestic  violence,  treatment  of injuries and
 39        places of safety and shelters are: (For safety reasons, inclusion  of
 40        shelter/safe  house  addresses  is  not necessary). You also have the
 41        right to sue for losses suffered as a result of the abuse,  including
 42        medical  and  moving expenses, loss of earnings or support, and other
 43        out-of-pocket expenses for injuries  sustained  and  damage  to  your
 44        property.  This can be done without an attorney in small claims court
 45        if the total amount claimed is less than four five  thousand  dollars
 46        ($45,000).
 47        (3)  The  peace  officer  shall  make  every  effort to arrange, offer, or
 48    facilitate transportation for the victim to a hospital for treatment of  inju-
 49    ries or to a place of safety or shelter.
 50        (4)  The  law  enforcement  agency shall forward the offense report to the
 51    appropriate prosecutor within ten (10) days of making such report if there  is
 52    probable  cause to believe that an offense has been committed, unless the case
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    is under active investigation.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                            RS 15903C1

To amend Idaho code 1-2301 relating to small claims by increasing
the allowable claim amount for cases where recovery of relatively
small amounts is sought.  Further, to provide for collection of 
fees by a prevailing party in a small claims action when
necessary to perfect the judgement.



                          FISCAL IMPACT

It can not be determined how many additional actions will be
pursued as a result of increasing the limit.  No impact to the
General Fund is expected.




Contact
Name: senator Tim Corder           Representative Jim Clark
Phone: 332-1000
Senator Mike Burkett

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                        S 1400