Courts.

The California Assembly Committee on Budget has restructured judicial administration through legislation that modifies court funding mechanisms, reporting requirements, and property management authority. The measure consolidates trial court improvement funds, establishes new operational metrics tracking, and authorizes the sale of specific courthouse properties.

The bill requires the Judicial Council to submit comprehensive annual reports by February 1st detailing trial court performance across multiple dimensions, including case disposition times, clearance rates, backlogs, operating hours, staffing levels, and funding allocations. These reports must provide granular data on court revenues, expenditures, reserves and fund balances from all funding sources.

For financial management, the legislation permits the Judicial Council to transfer up to $150 million between specified funds to address Trial Court Trust Fund cash flow needs, with loans requiring repayment within two years. The measure also merges existing improvement funds into the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund, maintaining annual transfers of $13.4 million to support court operations.

The bill authorizes the sale of three courthouse properties - the Plumas/Sierra Regional Courthouse, Modesto Main Courthouse, and Ceres Superior Court - at fair market value, with counties receiving first right of purchase. Sale proceeds will be deposited in the General Fund. Additionally, the measure provides a one-time $4.69 million General Fund appropriation to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund.

Several administrative provisions are eliminated, including requirements for a juror compensation pilot program and certain statistical reporting mandates. The legislation takes immediate effect as a budget-related measure under the California Constitution.