Administrative Office of Courts, creation of judicial education nonprofit

SB181 INTRODUCED
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SB181
4UQAWIR-1
By Senator Coleman
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 20-Jan-26
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4UQAWIR-1 9/15/2025 VSM (L)VSM 2025-2275
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First Read: 20-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Administrative Office of
Courts may direct state appropriated funds to pay for
the judicial education of any justice, judge, or
court-supportive personnel.
This bill would allow the Administrative Office
of Courts to create a nonprofit entity to collect and
use nonpublic funds for judicial education.
This bill would allow the Administrative Office
of Courts to hold nonpublic funds in accounts outside
the State Treasury which would be audited or reviewed
annually.
This bill would allow the Administrative Office
of Courts and other state entities to transfer state
funds to the nonprofit entity for judicial education
purposes and would allow the nonprofit entity to be
housed at the Administrative Office of Courts and
staffed by the employees of the Administrative Office
of Courts.
This bill would be remedial and curative.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code
language to current style.
A BILL
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A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Administrative Office of Courts; to
amend Section 12-5-11, Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize the
Administrative Office of Courts to form and use a nonprofit
entity for judicial education expenses; to authorize the
entity to maintain accounts outside the State Treasury which
would be audited or reviewed annually; to authorize the
Administrative Office of Courts and other state agencies to
transfer funds to the entity to support judicial education; to
provide that this act is remedial and curative; and to make
nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing
code language to current style .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 12-5-11, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§12-5-11
In connection with the continuing judicial education of
justices, judges , and court-supportive personnel, the
Administrative Office of Courts and the Administrative
Director of Courts is authorized to may:
(1) direct Direct the expenditure of funds appropriated
to the account of the National College of State Trial Judges
or any college of judges by whatever name the account appears ,
or to any accounts or judicial education for the judicial
education of any justice, judge , or court-supportive
personnel ;
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personnel ;
(2) and may direct Direct that the actual and
reasonable expenses incurred by a justice, judge , or
court-supportive personnel attending the National College of
State Judiciary or any other college, institute, conference,
seminar , or organization be paid ;.
(3)a. Create and use a nonprofit entity as defined by
26 U.S.C § 501(c)(3) to develop, implement, manage, and fund
judicial educational plans, conferences, and programs. The
entity may collect nonpublic funds to support this purpose.
b. An entity created under paragraph a. may hold
nonpublic funds in an account or accounts maintained outside
of the State Treasury, provided the account or accounts are
audited or reviewed annually by a certified, independent
accounting entity;
(4) Transfer state funds to the nonprofit to support
judicial education purposes; and
(5) House the entity created under paragraph (3)a. at
the Administrative Office of Courts and staff the entity with
employees of the Administrative Office of Courts. "
Section 2. The provisions of this act are remedial and
curative and any actions taken by the Administrative Office of
Courts in conformance with this act are ratified and
confirmed.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on May 1,
2026.
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