AR HB1144

Transfers authority over court reporter and trial court administrator salaries from the Auditor of State to the Administrative Office of the Courts, with salaries exempt from the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act but capped at amounts authorized by the General Assembly in appropriation acts.

Creates a new Trial Court Administrator position as a state employee, with one administrator authorized per circuit judge, selected and hired by the circuit judge, serving at the judge's pleasure and receiving salaries from the Trial Court Administrator Fund.

Changes substitute trial court staff payment from 80 to 30 working days per fiscal year maximum without Chief Justice approval, and increases substitute court reporter daily rate from $175 to maintain consistency with compensation structure.

Repeals former § 16-10-133 and § 16-10-134 regarding trial court staff positions and county service credit, replacing them with new trial court administrator provisions under § 16-13-3301 et seq.

Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2015, due to constitutional funding limitations and the necessity for Administrative Office of the Courts operations for the 2016 fiscal year.