This legislation increases the maximum alternative dispute resolution fee that courts can charge from $7.50 to $10.00 per civil case filed in superior, state, magistrate or probate court.

This legislation allows the county commissioners and/or animal control officer to order euthanization of a dog that has seriously injured a human or presents a danger to humans without going through the superior court if the dog's owner has relinquished custody of the dog. Whether a dog presents a danger to humans is in the discretion of the commissioners or the animal control officer.

This legislation expands probate courts' jurisdiction to include misdemeanors related to alcoholic beverages and under age persons; to livestock running at large, to criminal trespass; to littering, to illegal dumping, to shopfliting ($500 or less); to theft ($1,500 or less); to fourth degree forgery; to obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer, firefighter, EMT or other emergency medical professional; to obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency call; to giving false name or date of birth; to affray; to disorderly conduct; to harassing phone calls; to unlawful conduct during a 9-1-1 call; to public drunkenness; to possession of marijuana (one ounce or less); to possession or use of drug related objects; and to mandatory education for children between the ages of six and 16. The probate court would only have the ability to hear these cases if the defendant waives their right to a jury trial in writing.

This legislation allows victims and witnesses under 18 years of age to testify outside of the physical presence of the defendant in certain situations. 

This legislation clarifies the General Assembly's intent regarding the use and provision of probation services by courts for misdemeanor and ordinance violations. It clarifies the ability of judges to toll warrants of probationers who abscond during their probationary period without meeting the conditions of their sentence.

This bill provides for debt set off collection against state income tax refunds for any and all court costs, surcharges, and fines for which there is an outstanding judgment. The debt set off process would be managed the Administrative Office of the courts who may contract with a local government clearinghouse operated by ACCG and GMA to interface with the Department of Revenue to intercept the state tax return.  

This legislation makes several changes to the Responsible Dog Ownership Law. First, it allows county commissioners to appoint more than one individual as dog control officer. Second, in addition to animal control boards or boards of health conducting hearings to determine if a dog is dangerous or vicious, these hearings may also be held before the probate court. Third, it shortens the time period that a hearing can be requested by a dog owner and reduces the amount of time that a vicious or dangerous dog must be held if no owner can be found.

This legislation allows for the creation of veterans court divisions dedicated to address the specialized treatment needs of veterans and to facilitate a veteran's re-entry into society.  The passage of this legislation will enable local jurisdictions to access federal grant funds for the operation of the veterans courts.