Budget procedures and policies

(1) The basic components of the budget process for the judicial branch shall include: (a) The judicial branch, to the extent possible, will meet the same budget development and preparation deadlines as are required of state agencies. (b) The judicial branch, to the extent practicable, will submit the same narrative portion of the budget as is required of state agencies. (1m) There shall be an internal budget request and review procedure during the preparation of each biennial budget which involves: (a) A budget procedural and policy direction memorandum by the chief justice directed to all heads of judicial agencies under the supervision of the supreme court. This should be sent out by June 30 of every even-numbered year. (b) A procedure requiring justification of existing programs and positions as well as new programs and positions. (c) A review of all requests from all components of the judicial branch by the director of state courts and the supreme court finance committee and a final decision by the director, after consultation with the supreme court finance committee. (d) A review by the chief justice and the supreme court of the director's recommendation. (e) Appeal to the supreme court of the director's decision only by the chief judge of the court of appeals, chief judges of judicial administrative districts and office of lawyer regulation and board of bar examiners. (f) A system of deadlines for each step in the judicial budget preparation process. (2) A process for public hearings may be established for requests for additional courts. A process for public hearings for major new programs or budget initiatives may be developed. (3) The chief justice, with the assistance of the director of state 271 courts, shall be responsible for the presentation of the biennial budget of the judicial branch to the joint committee on finance. (4) The judicial branch shall establish a regular independent audit procedure. (5) The supreme court finance committee shall participate in gathering and sharing budgetary information with the supreme court, in regard to the preparation of the court system’s biennial budget, the court system’s operational budgets, and the annual operational plan for the grants that the supreme court administers. (6) The supreme court finance committee shall meet at least four times per calendar year. When practicable, such meetings shall occur in March, June, September and December of each year. Meetings may be held by teleconferencing.