A new version of emergency surcharge legislation to help fund Idaho's courts through the economic downturn was introduced in the House Ways & Means Committee today and sent directly to the House's 2nd Reading Calendar. It replaces HB 524a, the earlier version, which originally sought to impose a $25 surcharge on all convictions for the next three years, to raise $5.1 million a year. That was amended to a $20 surcharge, raising $4.1 million; the new version replaces that with a tiered surcharge of $10 on infractions, $50 on misdemeanors and $100 on felonies, raising $4.3 million a year. The courts still would be short $723,000 next year, under the budget already set by JFAC.

"It was thought by many that the tiered approach was the more appropriate approach," said Patti Tobias, administrative director of the courts; the committee vote was unanimous.