Trial courts: budget process: public notice.

Existing law requires a trial court to provide written notification to the public by conspicuous posting within or about its facilities, on its public Internet Web site, and to the Judicial Council, not less than 60 days prior to closing any courtroom, or closing or reducing the hours of clerks' offices during regular business hours on any day, except as specified. This bill would require a trial court to also provide notification by electronic distribution to individuals who have subscribed to the court's electronic distribution service. The bill would require those required notifications to include information on how the public may provide written comments during the 60-day period on the court's plan for closing a courtroom, or closing or reducing the hours of clerks' offices. The bill would require the court to review and consider all public comments received and immediately provide notice to the public and to the Judicial Council if the court's plan changes as a result of the comments received or for any other reason. Existing law authorizes the Judicial Council, as part of its trial court budget process, to seek input from groups and individuals as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, advisory committees and the Administrative Director of the Courts. The trial court budget process may include other considerations, including the receipt of budget requests from the trial courts. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules providing for notice to the public and for public input to decisions concerning administrative and financial functions of a trial court, including, but not limited to, decisions relating to the budget of the trial court prior to submittal to the Judicial Council and subsequent to budget approval. Existing law also requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules requiring trial courts to give notice to the public of other decisions concerning the administrative and financial functions of the trial courts. This bill, until January 1, 2017, would require each trial court, prior to adopting a baseline budget plan for the fiscal year, to provide the public notice of, and an opportunity for input on, the trial court's proposed budget plan, as specified. Among other things, the bill would require the court to allow public input by the submission of written comments or by holding a public hearing on the trial court's proposed baseline budget plan. The bill also would require the court, prior to conducting a public hearing, to make the proposed baseline budget plan available to the public and to provide notice of the hearing date, time, and location, and the opportunity to submit written comments.