Schwarzenegger Signs $5 Billion Courthouse Repair Bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ratified a bill that will provide $5 billion for state courthouse upgrades and construction projects.

SB 1407, authored by Democrat Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, (D-Oakland), will provide public bond funds for approximately 40 projects at some of the state’s oldest and least safe court facilities.

The California court system is the largest in the nation, with 9 million filings and 10 million residents called for jury service annually, according to reports.

Many buildings are not seismic-safe and could suffer critical failure during an earthquake, and the courthouse renovation package is a top funding priority for the governor’s office, officials say.

“Improving our state’s aging court facilities has been an integral part of my promise to Californians to rebuild our infrastructure and increase public safety,” Schwarzenegger says.

“This bill not only delivers on that promise to finance desperately needed construction projects, but it will also help create thousands of jobs for California workers.”

A report by the Judicial Council of California estimates 90 percent of the state’s 451 courts are in need of repair and improvements to provide safe and sufficient operational space.

Approximately 78 percent of California court facilities are non-ADA-compliant, 41 percent require in-custody defendants to use the same hallways as the general public, 68 percent have inadequate security and 25 percent have no jury room.

The trial court capital-outlay plan, which prioritizes 152 projects in five classification groups, identified 68 critical-need projects as a top priority for infrastructure improvement.

An estimated $11 billion is required to remedy the problems, according to the JCC report.

Legislators have already approved 12 of the 40 proposed courthouse repair or replacement projects identified by the trial court capital-outlay plan.

The 12 approved projects, including a new $42 million courthouse for San Joaquin County, will be submitted to the executive and legislative branches for immediate funding. San Joaquin was listed as a high priority for an additional courthouse due to significant population growth and several problems at the existing court facility in Stockton.

Under the new legislation, bonds will be funded through increased fines and fees, including traffic school, parking tickets, criminal convictions and court filings. The construction and renovation plan will not impact the state’s general fund, officials say.