BILL NUMBER: S7981

SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to
establishing a third county court judgeship in the county of Tompkins

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would establish a third office of judge of the county court in
Tompkins county.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 50 of section 182 of the Judiciary Law to
add a third county judge to Tompkins County.

§ 2 establishes a new office of judge of the county court of Tompkins
County.

§ 3 sets an effective date of January 1, 2019, but provides that the
additional office shall first be filled at the general election on
              

November 6, 2018.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to a report released by the Tompkins County Council of Govern-
ments (TCCOG) Task Force, Tompkins has experienced an increase in popu-
lation of 60% in the past 50 years without an increase in the number of
County Court judges. There is an average of one County Court judge per
31,600 residents in the sixth Judicial District, but in Tompkins, the
ratio is one judge per 52,400 residents, almost two thirds greater than
the district's average.

Additionally, a variance granted by the State Commission of Corrections
ended on December 31, 2017 which will result in an estimated
$300,000-$500,000 increase in the annual cost to board inmates. A third
judgeship is needed to manage caseloads and combat against overcrowding
in the local prisons by expediting criminal cases to help reduce the
number of un-sentenced inmates awaiting adjudication.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect January 1, 2019 provided, however, that the
additional office of county court judge shall first be filled at the
general election to be held on November 6, 2018.