Judiciary bill heads to House floor

An omnibus judiciary policy bill was approved by the House Way and Means Committee May 10 and awaits action by the full House.

Sponsored by Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound), chairman of the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee, HF1023 makes various changes relating to the judiciary, including: clarifying placement of vehicle license plates; establishing an administrative dismissal process for submitting proof of insurance in failure to provide vehicle insurance cases; clarifying certain fees and surcharges; streamlining notary provisions and certain lien filing and record procedures; modifying service provisions in order for protection dismissals; amending record retention provisions for probate records; clarifying guardian ad litem expenses; amending spousal maintenance calculations; authorizing the court to issue protective orders for “Safe at Home” participants in legal proceedings; and modifying standards for opening juvenile delinquency proceedings.

Also included in the bill is:

• HF1573, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), which would authorize the courts to construe will and trust provisions and revise the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act;

• HF951, sponsored by Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington), which would clarify that a disclaimer of an interest in real property is effective upon filing with the county recorder or registrar of titles, rather than the clerk of court;

• HF952, sponsored by Mazorol, which clarifies changes to guardianship compensation;

• HF382, sponsored by Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska), which would make several changes to receivership statutes that allow the court to order a receiver to take custodial responsibility of another’s property; and

• HF718, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Mpls), which would specify procedures for notifying individuals charged with or convicted of a crime of the status of their civil rights, including the right to vote, and requires development of a publication by the secretary of state on the topic of voting rights for individuals with criminal or arrest records.