Dispute resolution programs: court administration.

Existing law authorizes a county to establish a program of grants to public entities and nonprofit organizations for the provision of dispute resolution services and prescribes a variety of eligibility requirements and duties in this regard. Existing law requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to make monthly distributions from superior court filing fees for the support of dispute resolution programs in each county that has acted to establish a program, as specified. This bill would permit a county that has established and is operating a dispute resolution program as described above to contract with the superior court of the county to transfer operation of the program to the court. The court would be required to operate the program in compliance with all requirements, rules, and regulations associated with the program. The bill would provide that a court that contracts to operate a dispute resolution program assumes the relevant rights and responsibilities connected with the program and would require the county to transfer, within a reasonable time, any funds received for administration of the program, with future program funding to be provided directly to the court.