The Florida Senate

¹29.004  State courts system.--For purposes of implementing s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution, the essential elements of the state courts system are as follows:

(1)  Judges appointed or elected pursuant to chapters 25, 26, 34, and 35, and essential staff, expenses, and costs as determined by general law.

(2)  Juror compensation and expenses and reasonable juror accommodations when necessary.

(3)  Reasonable court reporting services necessary to meet constitutional requirements.

(4)  Auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with a disability which are necessary to ensure access to the courts. Such auxiliary aids and services include, but are not limited to, sign-language interpreters, translators, real-time transcription services for individuals who are hearing impaired, and assistive listening devices. This section does not include physical modifications to court facilities; noncourtroom communication services; or other accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services for which the counties are responsible pursuant to s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution.

(5)  Construction or lease of facilities, maintenance, utilities, and security for the district courts of appeal and the Supreme Court.

(6)  Foreign language interpreters and translators essential to comply with constitutional requirements.

(7)  Staff and expenses of the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

History.--s. 4, ch. 2000-237; s. 40, ch. 2003-402.

¹Note.--Section 40, ch. 2003-402, amended s. 29.004, effective July 1, 2004, to read:

29.004  State courts system.--For purposes of implementing s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution, the elements of the state courts system to be provided from state revenues appropriated by general law are as follows:

(1)  Judges appointed or elected pursuant to chapters 25, 26, 34, and 35.

(2)  Juror compensation and expenses.

(3)  Reasonable court reporting and transcription services necessary to meet constitutional requirements.

(4)  Construction or lease of facilities, maintenance, utilities, and security for the district courts of appeal and the Supreme Court.

(5)  Court foreign language and sign-language interpreters and translators essential to comply with constitutional requirements.

(6)  Expert witnesses not requested by any party which are appointed by the court pursuant to an express grant of statutory authority.

(7)  Judicial assistants, law clerks, and resource materials.

(8)  Masters and hearing officers.

(9)  Court administration.

(10)  Case management. Case management includes:

(a)  Initial review and evaluation of cases, including assignment of cases to court divisions or dockets.

(b)  Case monitoring, tracking, and coordination.

(c)  Scheduling of judicial events.

(d)  Service referral, coordination, monitoring, and tracking for treatment-based drug court programs under s. 397.334


Case management may not include costs associated with the application of therapeutic jurisprudence principles by the courts. Case management also may not include case intake and records management conducted by the clerk of court.

(11)  Mediation and arbitration, limited to trial court referral of a pending judicial case to a mediator or a court-related mediation program, or to an arbitrator or a court-related arbitration program, for the limited purpose of encouraging and assisting the litigants in partially or completely settling the case prior to adjudication on the merits by the court. This does not include citizen dispute settlement centers under s. 44.201 and community arbitration programs under s. 985.304

(12)  Basic legal materials reasonably accessible to the public other than a public law library. These materials may be provided in a courthouse facility or any library facility.

(13)  The Judicial Qualifications Commission.

(14)  Offices of the appellate clerks and marshals and appellate law libraries.