ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: APPROP DPA/SE 10-0-0-0 | 3^rd Read 27-0-3-0 House: JUD DP 9-0-0-1 | APPROP DP 10-2-0-1

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SB 1123: digital evidence fund; appropriation

Sponsor:  Senator Gowan, LD  14

Caucus & COW

Overview

Appropriates $400,000 in FY2022 and $490,000 in FY2023 from the General Fund (GF) to the Arizona Supreme Court for digital evidence storage and display and renames existing funds to allow for digital evidence.

History

The Arizona Lengthy Trial Fund consists of additional fees set by the Supreme Court and collected by county clerks of the superior court levied on filings, appearances, responses and answers. The funds are used to pay jurors who serve for over five days an amount between $40 and $300 per day (A.R.S. §§ 12-115, 21-222).

Another fund, the Document Storage and Retrieval Conversion Fund, is administered by county clerks of the superior court. That fund is comprised of additional fees set by the presiding judge of that court, up to $15 per filing or appearance. It is designated for use maintaining court documents and converting them for computer automation (A.R.S. § 12-284.01).

Provisions

1. Renames the Arizona Lengthy Trial Fund to the Arizona Lengthy Trial and Digital Evidence Fund. (Sec. 1, 4)

2. Allows the Supreme Court to waive additional fees for cases that do not involve the use of digital evidence. (Sec. 1)

3. Renames the Document Storage and Retrieval Conversion Fund to the Document and Digital Evidence Storage and Retrieval Conversion Fund. (Sec. 2)

4. Authorizes clerks of county superior courts to use the Document and Digital Evidence Storage and Retrieval Conversion Fund to manage digital evidence and display that evidence to a jury. (Sec. 2)

5. Repeals the statutory provisions related to electronic filing and access for attorneys and pro se litigants. (Sec. 3)

6. Permits the remainder of the Arizona Lengthy Trial and Digital Evidence Fund after paying jurors to be used for managing digital evidence and displaying that evidence to the jury. (Sec. 4)

7. Appropriates, from the GF $400,000 in FY 2021-2022 and $490,000 in FY 2022-2023 to the Supreme Court for a digital evidence storage and display system. (Sec. 5)

8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 4)

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12.                   SB 1123

13. Initials LC/AF        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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