2023-07-17 Clerk budget memoMemo
To: BOCC
From: Scott Tinney
Date: 7-22-2023
Re: Budget Amendment
am requesting a budget amendment that is necessary due to recently enacted legislation.
RCW 7.105.105 requires Superior Court Clerks to accept electronically submitted documents
related to the filing of civil protection orders which includes Anti -harassment, Domestic Violence,
Extreme Risk, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Vulnerable Adult.
We do not accept any other court document by electronic submission because we do not yet
have the technical capability to do so. We have been able to meet the statutory requirement of
accepting electronic submission for civil protection orders by using an extended trial
subscription to Legal Atoms. Legal Atoms has provided a tool that allows us to accept electronic
submission of civil protection order petitions. The program that they have created ensures that
a person filing for a protection order has all of the necessary forms for their particular situation,
and it ensures that all required forms are filled out completely before they are submitted.
Many victims that truly need protection orders are unable to come to the courthouse for a variety
of reasons. By using Legal Atoms, petitioners are able to obtain a protection order without
having to leave their home.
Legal Atoms is the only product available that is specifically designed for this task. We have
been using it for 6 months, and if has worked flawlessly.
Request For Budget Amendment
Fu
10nd 00
Department
007
Program
Reason For Request:
Q New Program or Service
❑ Capital Expenditure
❑ Other (Explain)
Type of appropriation:
Supplemental
O Emergency
❑ Additional Cost Due to Increased Level of Service
❑ Additional Cost With No Increase in Level of Service
❑ Correct/Adjust Budget within Fund/Department
Please Describe Need ForAdditional Funding & Attach Related Documentation
Due to recently enacted legislation, RCW 7.105.105 now requires the Clerk's Office to accept petitions for protection orders and all other
filings in connection with those petitions to be to be submitted remotely through an electronic submission process. After much research and
testing we have concluded that the most efficient method for receiving and processing the electronic submissions is by using a service
offered by Legal Atoms. This appears to be the only available option specifically designed for the purpose that will allow the Clerk's Office to
comply with the time requirements mandated in the new legislation. We have been using this service on an extended trial base for about
six months, but we will now need to start paying an annual fee in order to continue using it.
Use of Funds
DIncrease Expenditures ❑Increase Fund Balance ❑� Operating Transfer Out
Requested
Account Description ORG CODE OBJECT Current Budget Increase/Decrease Revised Budget
Legal Atoms subscription for E-filing
00751230
$ -
$ 14,400
$ 14,400
$ -
$ -
$
$
$ -
$ -
$
$
$
$ -
$
$
Increase a es in Estimated Ending Fund Balanc
XXX00000
291800
$ -
Total Use of Funds:
$ -
$ 14,400
$ 14,400
Source of Funds
❑Increase Revenues ❑Decrease Fund Balance Operating Transfer In ❑Use of Fund Balance
Requested
Account Description ORG CODE OBJECT Current Budget Increase/Decrease Revised Budget
Legal Atoms subscription for E-filing
00751230
$
$ 14,400
$ 14,400.00
$
$ -
$
Use of Estimated Ending Fund Balance
XXX00000
T 291800,
Total Source of Funds:
$ -
$ 14,400.00
$ 14,400.00
Elected/ Director
Date
Revised 02-03