849-H - Establishment and administration of program.

§  849-h.  Establishment  and  administration  of program. 1. There is  hereby established  a  justice  court  assistance  program  (hereinafter  referred  to  in  this article as the "program"), to be administered and  supervised under the direction of the chief administrator of the courts,  to provide funds pursuant to this article to  assist  the  operation  of  town   and   village  justice  courts.  The  chief  administrator  shall  promulgate rules and regulations to  effectuate  the  purposes  of  this  article,  including provisions for periodic monitoring and evaluation of  the program. Each town or  village  receiving  funds  pursuant  to  this  article  shall  comply  with all such rules and regulations and with all  provisions of this article.    2. Funds available pursuant to  this  article  may  be  used  for  any  purpose  having as its end enhancement of the justice courts' ability to  provide  suitable  and   sufficient   services   to   their   respective  communities.  These  purposes  may include, but shall not be limited to,  automation of  court  operations;  improvement  or  expansion  of  court  facilities;  provision  of  appropriate means for the recording of court  proceedings; provision of lawbooks, treatises and related materials; and  provision of appropriate training for justices and for nonjudicial court  staff. Except as  may  otherwise  be  provided  by  rule  of  the  chief  administrator,  funds  available  pursuant  to this article shall not be  used to compensate justices and nonjudicial court staff, nor shall  they  be  used as a means of reducing funding provided by a town or village to  its justice court.