H 1207 - Save Our Courts

• Appropriates $20 million total from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, including $2.5 million for remote work technology, $10 million for personal protective equipment and temporary rental facilities, and $7.5 million for temporary staff, health workers, overtime pay, and emergency judges.

• Temporarily removes statutory limits on the number of active emergency superior court and district court judges through June 30, 2021, allowing judges to be added or removed based on the Chief Justice's determination of court system needs.

• Modifies G.S. 15A-534 to provide judicial officials with greater discretion when setting pretrial release conditions, replacing mandatory secured bonds with authority to impose conditions in accordance with the statute's existing five-option framework.

• Removes the requirement for judges to impose bonds at least double the previous bond amount when a defendant has failed to appear, instead allowing judicial officials to choose from the five pretrial release condition options and impose travel and conduct restrictions.