Bill > SB136

This bill makes several significant changes to court administration and reporting requirements in California. It repeals a pilot program studying juror compensation and diversity, which was set to expire in January 2027. The bill updates references from the obsolete "Administrative Office of the Courts" to the Judicial Council, reflecting current organizational structure. A key provision requires the Judicial Council to provide an annual report to the Legislature by February 1st, detailing comprehensive operational metrics for each trial court, including case disposition times, backlogs, staff vacancies, and funding levels. The bill also changes reporting deadlines for court allocations and eliminates some existing reporting requirements about judicial standards. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Judicial Council to sell specific courthouses in Plumas/Sierra, Stanislaus, and Modoc counties, with proceeds to be deposited into the General Fund. The legislation includes a one-time appropriation of $4,690,000 from the General Fund to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, and is explicitly tied to the Budget Act of 2025, allowing it to take effect immediately. These changes aim to streamline court administration, improve transparency, and provide more detailed financial and operational insights into California's trial court system.

Budget and Finance

Budget and Fiscal Review (Senate)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB136