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Committee backs bill creating judicial emergency repair fund for court‑owned buildings
Summary
Senate Bill 301 would create a nonreverting fund administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts to pay for unforeseen repairs at court‑owned facilities; committee approved the measure without objection.
The Senate Conservation Committee recommended passage of SB301, which would create an emergency fund to pay for unforeseen repairs at court‑owned facilities administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Senator Paul, sponsor of the measure, said the fund would permit timely repairs to court facilities so that court operations need not be suspended while officials secure funding. Cynthia Pacheco, director of court operations for the Administrative Office of the Courts, told senators that delaying repairs can make small problems worse and more expensive and that courts sometimes must reallocate appropriations or seek Board of Finance action to respond to urgent needs. The bill would apply only to facilities owned by the judiciary — currently the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Metro Court and certain magistrate or new facilities — not county‑owned district court buildings.
The measure would establish an initial balance (the draft used $450,000) in a nonreverting fund; the sponsor said that level was chosen to avoid a large idle balance while still covering likely short‑term needs and that the office would return to the Legislature for additional appropriations if necessary. Committee members asked about expected longevity of the fund and the relationship with county responsibilities; witnesses said the fund would likely cover a few years of routine emergency repairs but not major catastrophes.
Senators approved a due‑pass motion without objection and sent SB301 forward from committee.
