2014 -- H 7259 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS - COURT

ADMINISTRATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, and Lally

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Judiciary)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 8-15 of the General Laws entitled "Court Administration" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     8-15-11. Electronic Filing and Online Payments.-- (a) In addition to any other filing

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fees or court costs required by law or court rule, parties to any court matter may be required to

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pay a technology surcharge or fee at the inception or the conclusion of any case, or upon making

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any electronic payment online to any of the courts within the unified judicial system. Such

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surcharges or fees shall be determined by the state court administrator with the approval of the

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chief justice, not to exceed twenty five dollars ($25.00).

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     (b) The collection of technology surcharges shall be monitored and supervised by the

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judiciary's director of finance and shall be deposited into a restricted receipt account designated

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as "Rhode Island Judiciary Technology Surcharge Account," the proceeds of which shall be

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solely for use by the judiciary in support of its technology infrastructure and case management

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system;

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     (c) The implementation of electronic court records shall not alter the application of § 38-

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2-5 to any judicial records, whether in paper or electronic format.

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     SECTION 2. Section 8-6-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-6 entitled "General Powers

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of Supreme and Superior Courts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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      8-6-5.  Arbitration of civil actions. -- The presiding justice of the superior court may

 

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promulgate rules and regulations providing for compulsory and/or noncompulsory nonbinding

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arbitration of such category or categories of civil actions filed in or appealed to the superior court

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as he or she shall determine. The matter shall be heard by a single arbitrator who shall be selected

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by mutual agreement of the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s). If after thirty (30) days the plaintiff(s)

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and defendant(s) are unable to agree upon the selection of an arbitrator, a justice of the superior

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court shall select the arbitrator upon request in writing from either party. The costs of arbitration

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shall be borne by the Rhode Island state court system and a reasonable cost of the arbitration not

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to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per case may be assessed and apportioned to each of the

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parties by the superior court pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the presiding

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justice of the superior court consistent with § 8-6-6. The assessed costs received from the parties

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shall be deposited into the general fund. Any party dissatisfied with the decision of the arbitrator

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may demand a trial by jury if one was timely claimed in the complaint or answer, or a trial by

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judge if no jury trial was claimed. The decision of the arbitrator shall not be admissible at the

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trial. The court may require a party who rejects an arbitrator's award and demands a trial to post a

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three hundred dollar ($300) filing fee and pay a technology surcharge in accordance with §8-15-

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11. The filing fee shall be posted with the superior court arbitration office and deposited into an

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arbitration fund restricted receipt account established under the control of the state court director

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of finance. The arbitration funds shall not be subject to the indirect cost recoveries provisions set

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forth in § 35-4-27. If more than one party rejects the arbitrator's award and demands a trial, the

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filing fee, first received in the arbitration office, shall designate the party rejecting the award.

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Should the verdict at trial be more favorable to the party than the arbitrator's award, the filing fee

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shall be reimbursed to that party. Should the verdict be equal to or less favorable to the party than

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the arbitrator's award, the filing fee posted shall be forfeited as a sanction. If forfeited as a

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sanction the fee shall remain available for program expenses from the arbitration fund restricted

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receipt account. The presiding justice of the superior court shall be authorized to retain the

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services of qualified arbitrators and to direct payment for such services and other related expenses

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from the arbitration fund restricted receipt account and may appoint an administrator of the

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arbitration program for a ten (10) year term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. 

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     SECTION 3. Sections 9-12-10 and 9-12-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-12

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entitled "District Court Practice" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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      9-12-10.  Claim of appeal of superior court. -- Except as otherwise provided, in all

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civil cases in the district court, any party may cause the case to be removed for trial on all

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questions of law and fact to the superior court for the county in which division the suit is pending,

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by claiming an appeal from the judgment of the district court, in writing, filed with the clerk of

 

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the division within two (2) days exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays after the

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judgment is entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal, at the time of claiming the

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appeal, shall pay to the clerk all costs including an attorney's fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the

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party or parties adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk to the attorney for the

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adverse party. The attorney's fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be divided equally among the

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attorneys for the parties adversely interested when more than one adverse party is involved; and

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provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorney's fee, at a sum not less

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than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) in addition to a technology surcharge assessed in accordance

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with § 8-15-11.

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     9-12-10.1.  Claim of appeal to superior court in landlord tenant actions. -- In any

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civil action pursuant to chapter 18 of title 34, in the district court or other appropriate court, any

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party may cause the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the superior

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court for the county in which division the suit is pending, by claiming an appeal from the

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judgment of the district or other appropriate court, in writing, filed with the clerk of the division

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within five (5) days after the judgment is entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal at

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the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to the clerk all costs including an attorney's fee of fifty

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dollars ($50.00) for the party or parties adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the

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clerk to the attorney for the adverse party; provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed,

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exclusive of the attorney's fee, at a sum less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) in addition to a

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technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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      SECTION 4. Section 9-24-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-24 entitled "Appellate

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Proceedings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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      9-24-1.  Filing of appeal. -- Any party aggrieved by a final judgment, decree, or order of

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the superior court may, within the time prescribed by applicable procedural rules, appeal to the

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supreme court. Subject to the provisions of applicable procedural rules, the appeal shall be taken

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by filing a claim of appeal in the office of the clerk of the court from which the appeal is taken,

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and shall deposit with the clerk an amount not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) as prescribed by

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the rules and regulations of the supreme court in addition to a technology surcharge assessed in

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accordance with § 8-15-11.

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     SECTION 5. Sections 9-29-1, 9-29-18, 9-29-19 and 9-29-20 of the General Laws in

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Chapter 9-29 entitled "Fees" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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      9-29-1.  District court fees. -- (a) Every district court shall be allowed the following fees

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in full, to be taxed in the bill of costs in every civil action:

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        (1) (1)  For the entry of every small claim $55.00

 

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        (2) (2)  For the entry of every other action $80.00

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        (3) (3)  For every writ of execution $20.00

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        (b) In addition to the fees set forth herein, the district court shall apply a technology

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surcharge shall be placed on all filing fees assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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        (c) Provided, that five dollars ($5.00) of the fee for the entry of every action in

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subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) or writ in subdivision (a)(3) shall be forwarded to Rhode Island legal

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services. 

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     9-29-18.  Superior court fees. -- (a) The superior court shall be allowed the following

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fees in full to be taxed in the bill of costs in every civil action:

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        (1) (1)  For entry of every civil action, or petition $160.00

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        (2) (2)  For every writ of execution $50.00

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        (3) (3)  For the issuance of every citation $25.00

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        (b) In addition to the fees set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the superior court

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shall apply a technology surcharge shall be placed on all filing fees assessed in accordance with §

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8-15-11.

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        (c) Provided, that ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee for the entry of every civil action or

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petition shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services. 

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      9-29-19.  Family court fees. -- (a) The family court shall be allowed the following fees

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in full to be taxed in the bill of costs in every domestic relations or other civil proceeding:

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        (1) (1)  For the entry of every petition, complaint, or action $120.00

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        (2) (2)  For every writ of execution $40.00

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        (b) In addition to the fees as set forth herein, the family court shall apply a technology

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surcharge shall be placed on all filing fees assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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        (c) Provided, that ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee for the entry of every petition,

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complaint or action shall be forwarded to Rhode Island legal services. 

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     9-29-20.  Supreme court fees. -- (a) The supreme court, by a majority of its members,

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shall have the power to prescribe by rule a fee of not more than one hundred fifty dollars

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($150.00) for docketing a civil appeal or docketing any other proceeding brought to review a civil

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matter, and to prescribe a waiver of the fee as to a person who is unable to pay the fee.

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        (b) Commencing July 1, 1992, in addition to the fees set forth herein, the court, by a

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majority of its members, shall have the power to prescribe by rule a surcharge in the amount of

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forty ($40.00) for docketing a civil appeal or docketing any other proceeding brought to review a

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civil matter.

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     (c)(b) Commencing July 1, 1999, the The court may increase the apply a technology or

 

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other surcharge for docketing a civil appeal or docketing any other proceeding brought before the

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court in an amount not to exceed to eighty-five dollars ($85.00). 

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     SECTION 6. Section 10-16-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 10-16 entitled "Small

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Claims and Consumer Claims" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     10-16-4. Filing fee – Waiver of appeal. -- (a) The plaintiff shall pay into the court an

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entry fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00), of which twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be placed in a

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"small claims mediation restricted receipt account" together with an amount equal to the then

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prevailing postal rate, for mailing notices in the case, which shall be deemed the beginning of the

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action. The "small claims mediation restricted receipt account" shall be established under the

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control of the state court director of finance; the chief judge of the district court shall be

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authorized to pay for the services of qualified mediators and other related expenses from the

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"small claims mediation restricted receipt account." In addition to the entry fee, the court shall

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apply a technology surcharge in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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      (b) The plaintiff shall also file with his or her claim a written waiver of right of appeal.

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      SECTION 7. Chapter 12-20 of the General Laws entitled "Costs" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following section:

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     12-20-12. Technology Surcharge. -- A technology surcharge shall be assessed as a cost

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against the defendant in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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     SECTION 8. Section 28-35-32 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-35 entitled "Workers

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Compensation-Procedure" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-35-32.  Costs – Counsel and witness fees. -- No fee shall be charged by the clerk of

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any court or by the administrator of the workers' compensation court for the performance of any

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service required by this chapter, except for certified copies of decrees and copies of transcripts.

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Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the workers' compensation court shall

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be allowed a filing fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for the filing of a petition under chapters 29 –

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38 of this title, and a filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the filing of an appeal under §

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28-35-28, which sums shall be deposited to provide additional funding to the uninsured

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employers fund as established by chapter 28-53. The workers' compensation court may charge

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fees for certified copies of decrees and copies of transcripts. In addition to the fees set forth

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herein, the workers' compensation court shall apply a technology surcharge on all petitions and

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appeals in accordance with § 8-15-11. In proceedings under this chapter, and in proceeding under

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chapter 37 of this title, costs shall be awarded, including counsel fees and fees for medical and

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other expert witnesses including interpreters, to employees who successfully prosecute petitions

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for compensation, petitions for medical expenses, petitions to amend a preliminary order or

 

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memorandum of agreement, and all other employee petitions, except petitions for lump sum

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commutation, and to employees who successfully defend, in whole or in part, proceedings

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seeking to reduce or terminate any and all workers' compensation benefits, and to medical

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services providers who successfully prosecute petitions for the payment of medical expenses

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except that medical services providers shall not be paid expert witness fees for testimony in

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support of petitions filed in their behalf. These costs shall be assessed against the employer by a

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single judge, by an appellate panel and by the supreme court on appeal consistent with the

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services rendered before each tribunal and shall be made a part of the decree. No employee's

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attorney shall accept any other or additional fees for his services for the particular petition for

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which the fees are awarded in each tribunal. 

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     SECTION 8. Sections 31-41.1-3, 31-41.1-4, 31-41.1-8, and 31-41.1-9 of the General

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Laws in Chapter 31-41.1 entitled "Adjudication of Traffic Offenses" are hereby amended to read

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as follows:

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     31-41.1-3.  Method of payment. -- If the offending operator elects to dispose of the

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charge without personally appearing before the traffic tribunal, he or she shall execute the form

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indicated and return it to the traffic tribunal not later than twenty (20) days from the date of the

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summons either by mailing or delivering the form and summons to the violation section of the

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traffic tribunal, or to its designee, together with a check or money order in the amount indicated

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by the fine schedule on the form in addition to any technology surcharge applied by the traffic

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tribunal assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.

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     31-41.1-4.  Schedule of violations.-- (a) The penalties for violations of the enumerated

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sections, listed in numerical order, correspond to the fines described. However, those offenses for

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which punishments which may vary according to the severity of the offense, or punishment which

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require the violator to perform a service, shall be heard and decided by the traffic tribunal or

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municipal court. The following violations may be handled administratively through the method

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prescribed in this chapter. This list is not exclusive and jurisdiction may be conferred on the

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traffic tribunal with regard to other violations.

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        VIOLATIONS SCHEDULE

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        SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

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        SPEEDING Fine

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        SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

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        (b) In addition to any other penalties provided by law, a judge may impose the

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following penalties for speeding:

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        (1) For speeds up to and including ten miles per hour (10 mph) over the posted speed

 

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limit on public highways, a fine as provided for in subsection (a) of this section for the first

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offense, ten dollars ($10.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the second

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offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense, and fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for

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each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and any subsequent offense if within twelve

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(12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to thirty (30) days.

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        (2) For speeds in excess of ten miles per hour (10 mph) over the posted speed limit on

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public highways, a mandatory fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for each mile over the speed limit for

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the first offense, fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the

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second offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense, and twenty dollars ($20.00) per

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mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and subsequent offense if within

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twelve (12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to sixty (60)

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days.

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      (c) Except for a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11, Any any

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person charged with a violation who pays the fine administratively pursuant to chapter 8.2 41.1 of

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title 8 31 shall not be subject to any additional costs or assessments, including, but not limited to,

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the hearing fee established in § 8-18-4 or assessment for substance abuse prevention

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     31-41.1-8.  Appellate review. -- (a) Appeals panels. The chief magistrate of the traffic

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tribunal shall establish one or more appeals panels, each consisting of three (3) members of the

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traffic tribunal and shall select a presiding member for each appeals panel from the members so

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appointed. No member of the traffic tribunal shall serve as a member of an appeals panel hearing

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the appeal of a determination by that member. The chief judge shall also designate any other

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personnel of the traffic tribunal that may be necessary to assist an appeals panel in carrying out its

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functions.

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        (b) Right of appeal. Any person who is aggrieved by a determination of a judge or

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magistrate may appeal the determination pursuant to the provisions of this section.

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        (c) Appeals panel. Each appeal filed pursuant to this section shall be reviewed by an

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appeals panel which shall make a determination of the appeal, and shall cause an appropriate

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order to be entered in the records of the traffic tribunal.

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        (d) Time limitations. No appeal shall be reviewed if it is filed more than ten (10) days

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after notice was given of the determination appealed from, unless it is determined that failure to

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file was due to excusable neglect. Notice shall be complete upon mailing.

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        (e) Appeal procedures. Any person desiring to file an appeal from an adverse

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determination pursuant to this section shall do so in a form and manner provided by the clerk of

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the traffic tribunal. The transcript of any hearing which formed the basis for the determination

 

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will be reviewed only if it is submitted by the appellant. An appeal shall not be deemed to be

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finally submitted until the appellant has submitted all forms or documents required to be

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submitted by the clerk of the traffic tribunal or by this section.

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        (f) Standard of review. The appeals panel shall not substitute its judgment for that of the

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judge or magistrate as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The appeals panel may

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affirm the decision of the judge or magistrate, or it may remand the case for further proceedings

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or reverse or modify the decision if the substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudicial

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because the judge's findings, inferences, conclusions or decisions are:

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        (1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;

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        (2) In excess of the statutory authority of the judge or magistrate;

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        (3) Made upon unlawful procedure;

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        (4) Affected by other error of law;

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        (5) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the

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whole record; or

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        (6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly

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unwarranted exercise of discretion.

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        (g) Transcript of hearings. Transcripts of the record of any hearing may be obtained at

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the cost of the traffic tribunal if prepared by the tribunal or at a rate specified in the contract

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between the court and the contractor, if prepared by a private contractor.

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        (h) Fees. The fee for filing an appeal shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and this fee

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shall be deposited into the general fund. In addition to the appeal filing fee, the traffic tribunal

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shall apply a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. No appeal shall be

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accepted unless the required fee has been paid or if forma pauperis status has been granted.

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        (i) Stays pending appeal. Whenever a determination has not been made within thirty

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(30) days after an appeal has been finally submitted, a stay of execution will be deemed granted

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by operation of law, and the license, certificate, permit, or privilege affected will be automatically

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restored pending final determination by the appeals panel. 

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      31-41.1-9.  Appeals to district court. -- (a) Right of appeal. Any person who is

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aggrieved by a determination of an appeals panel may appeal the determination pursuant to the

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provisions of this section.

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     (b) Time limitations. No appeal shall be reviewed if it is filed more than ten (10) days

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after notice was given of the determination appealed from. Notice shall be complete upon

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mailing.

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     (c) Appeal procedures. Any person desiring to file an appeal from an adverse

 

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determination pursuant to this section shall do so in a form and manner provided by the clerk of

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the traffic tribunal. The transcript of any hearing which formed the basis for the determination

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will be reviewed only if it is submitted by the appellant. An appeal shall not be deemed to be

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finally submitted until the appellant has submitted all forms or documents required to be

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submitted by the clerk of the traffic tribunal or by this section.

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     (d) Standard of review. The judge of the district court shall not substitute his or her

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judgment for that of the appeals panel as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The

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district court judge may affirm the decision of the appeals panel, or may remand the case for

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further proceedings or reverse or modify the decision if the substantial rights of the appellant

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have been prejudicial because the appeals panel's findings, inferences, conclusions or decisions

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are:

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        (1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;

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        (2) In excess of the statutory authority of the appeals panel;

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        (3) Made upon unlawful procedure;

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        (4) Affected by other error of law;

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        (5) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the

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whole record; or

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        (6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly

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unwarranted exercise of discretion.

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      (e) Transcript of hearings. Transcripts of the record of any hearing may be obtained at

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the cost of the traffic tribunal if prepared by the tribunal or at a rate specified in the contract

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between the tribunal and the contractor, if prepared by a private contractor.

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        (f) Fees. The fee for filing an appeal shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and this fee

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shall be deposited into the general fund. In addition to the appeal filing fee, the traffic tribunal

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shall apply a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. No appeal shall be

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accepted unless the required fee has been paid or if forma pauperis status has been granted.

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     (g) Stays pending appeal. Whenever a determination has not been made within thirty (30)

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days after an appeal has been finally submitted, a stay of execution will be deemed granted by

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operation of law, and the license, certificate, permit, or privilege affected will be automatically

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restored pending final determination by the district court.

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     (h) Certiorari. Any person who has exhausted all remedies available to him or her under

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the provisions of this section, including an appeal before the district court, may seek review by

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petition for writ of certiorari to the supreme court. 

 

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     SECTION 9. This act shall take effect on March 1, 2014.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS - COURT

ADMINISTRATION

***

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     This act would provide for the processing of electronic payments submitted to all courts

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within the unified judicial system and provides for the implementation of technology fees not to

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exceed twenty five dollars ($25.00) in order to process electronic payments.

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     This act would take effect on March 1, 2014.

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