The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 523, sponsored by Rep. Frizzell and Rep. Behning, on Marion County small claims courts. This bill was amended to:
- make the small claims courts in Marion County courts of record after July 1, 2018;
- make small claims courts full time courts before 2018 unless the township board objects, and full-time courts after 2018 by operation of law;
- sets the annual salary of a full time small claims court judge at 80% of the salary of a Marion County circuit or superior court judge;
- increase the jurisdictional amount to $8,000 on July 1, 2018;
- require courts to use the Odyssey case management system; and,
- define “low caseload court” and require certain fees to be transferred to low caseload courts.
The amended bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/523.