The Florida Senate

43.16  Justice Administrative Commission; membership, powers and duties.--

(1)  There is hereby created a Justice Administrative Commission, with headquarters located in the state capital. The necessary office space for use of the commission shall be furnished by the proper state agency in charge of state buildings. For purposes of the fees imposed on agencies pursuant to s. 287.057(23), the Justice Administrative Commission shall be exempt from such fees.

(2)  Members of the Justice Administrative Commission shall serve for a period of 2 years, with the terms of each dating from July 1, 1985, except that initially, one state attorney member and one public defender member shall each serve a 1-year term. Members shall be selected in the following manner:

(a)  Two state attorneys, to be appointed by the president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

(b)  Two public defenders, to be appointed by the president of the Florida Public Defenders Association.

(3)  The members of the Justice Administrative Commission are authorized to perform necessary travel incident to official business of the commission and shall be reimbursed therefor in accordance with the provisions of s. 112.061

(4)(a)  The Justice Administrative Commission shall employ an executive director and fix his or her salary. The executive director shall employ any necessary personnel for the efficient performance of the commission according to a classification and pay plan annually approved by the commission.

(b)  All employees of or within the commission are exempt from the Career Service System provided in chapter 110 and, notwithstanding s. 110.205(5), are not included in the Senior Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service. The commission shall annually approve a classification plan and salary and benefits plan.

(c)  Employees in permanent positions must be offered benefits comparable to those offered under the Career Service System.

(d)  The commission may offer benefits in excess of those offered under the Career Service System only to employees who are appointed to positions designated as having managerial or policymaking duties or positions requiring membership in The Florida Bar.

(e)  By January 15th of each year, the commission shall submit to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a listing of all positions receiving benefits greater than those benefits offered under the Career Service System. Any change in the positions that are offered greater benefits or any change in the level of benefits is subject to the notice and objection procedures of s. 216.177

(5)  The duties of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a)  The maintenance of a central state office for administrative services and assistance when possible to and on behalf of the state attorneys and public defenders of Florida, the capital collateral regional counsel of Florida, and the Guardian Ad Litem Program.

(b)  Each state attorney and public defender and the Guardian Ad Litem Program shall continue to prepare necessary budgets, vouchers which represent valid claims for reimbursement by the state for authorized expenses, and other things incidental to the proper administrative operation of the office, such as revenue transmittals to the Chief Financial Officer and automated systems plans, but will forward same to the commission for recording and submission to the proper state officer. However, when requested by a state attorney or a public defender or the Guardian Ad Litem Program, the commission will either assist in the preparation of budget requests, voucher schedules, and other forms and reports or accomplish the entire project involved.

(6)  The provisions contained in this section shall be supplemental to those of chapter 27, relating to state attorneys and public defenders; to those of chapter 39, relating to the Guardian Ad Litem Program; or to other laws pertaining hereto.

(7)  Chapter 120 does not apply to the Justice Administrative Commission.

History.--ss. 1-6, ch. 65-328; s. 1, ch. 78-174; s. 1, ch. 85-46; s. 4, ch. 85-332; s. 259, ch. 95-147; s. 98, ch. 2003-261; s. 64, ch. 2003-402; s. 42, ch. 2004-265; s. 29, ch. 2005-236; s. 7, ch. 2006-1; s. 2, ch. 2006-18; s. 22, ch. 2006-79.