Bill > S850

This bill aims to increase efficiency in judicial administration by changing how court funding is managed and clarifying certain powers. Specifically, it proposes that the costs for maintaining and operating various courts, including the Supreme Judicial Court, Appeals Court, and all departments of the Trial Court (such as Superior, District, Probate and Family, Land, Boston Municipal, Housing, and Juvenile Courts), will be paid as a single lump sum to designated administrative offices or chief justices. These entities will then be responsible for distributing the funds within their respective court systems. Additionally, the bill modifies language in Section 6 of Chapter 211B of the General Laws, changing "shall" to "may" regarding certain actions, removing the word "only," and deleting the phrase "in the nature of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance" from a description of conduct. It also removes a provision that limited the Supreme Judicial Court's general superintendence powers over the chief justice for administration and management, except in extraordinary circumstances. Finally, it grants the chief justice for administration and management the authority to freely transfer appropriated funds within a single trial court department, but not between different trial court departments.