CHAPTER 29

29.001 State courts system elements and

definitions.

(1) For the purpose of implementing s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution, the state courts system is defined to include the enumerated elements of the Supreme Court, district courts of appeal, circuit courts, county courts, and certain supports thereto. The offices of public defenders and state attorneys are defined to include the enumerated elements of the 20 state attorneys’ offices and the enumerated elements of the 20 public defenders’ offices and five offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel.

Court-appointed counsel are defined to include the enumerated elements for counsel appointed to ensure due process in criminal and civil proceedings in accordance with state and federal constitutional guarantees. Funding for the state courts system, the state attorneys’ offices, the public defenders’ offices, the offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and other court-appointed counsel shall be provided from state revenues appropriated by general law.

(2) Although a program or function currently may be funded by the state or prescribed or established in general law, this does not designate the program or function as an element of the state courts system, state attorneys’ offices, public defenders’ offices, or the offices of the circuit and county court clerks performing court-related functions as described in s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2000-237; s. 39, ch. 2003-402; s. 16, ch. 2007-62.

29.004 State courts system.

(1) Judges appointed or elected pursuant to chapters 25, 26, 34, and 35.

(2) Juror compensation and expenses.

(3) Reasonable court reporting and transcription services necessary to meet constitutional requirements.

(4) Construction or lease of facilities, maintenance, utilities, and security for the district courts of appeal and the Supreme Court.

(5) Court foreign language and sign-language interpreters and translators essential to comply with constitutional requirements.

(6) Expert witnesses who are appointed by the court pursuant to an express grant of statutory authority.

(7) Judicial assistants, law clerks, and resource materials.

(8) General magistrates, special magistrates, and hearing officers.

(9) Court administration.

(10) Case management. Case management includes:

(11) Mediation and arbitration, limited to trial court referral of a pending judicial case to a mediator or a court-related mediation program, or to an arbitrator or a court-related arbitration program, for the limited purpose of encouraging and assisting the litigants in partially or completely settling the case prior to adjudication on the merits by the court. This does not include citizen dispute settlement centers under s. 44.201 and community arbitration programs under s. 985.16.

(12) Basic legal materials reasonably accessible to the public other than a public law library. These materials may be provided in a courthouse facility or any library facility.

(13) The Judicial Qualifications Commission.

(14) Offices of the appellate clerks and marshals and appellate law libraries.

History. — s. 4, ch. 2000-237; s. 40, ch. 2003-402; s. 3, ch. 2004-11; s. 14, ch. 2005-236; s. 104, ch. 2006-120; s. 1, ch. 2016-241.

29.005 State attorneys’ offices and prosecution expenses.

(1) The state attorney of each judicial circuit and assistant state attorneys and other staff as determined by general law.

(2) Reasonable court reporting and transcription services necessary to meet constitutional or statutory requirements, including the cost of transcribing and copying depositions of witnesses and the cost of foreign language and sign-language interpreters and translators.

(3) Witnesses, including expert witnesses, summoned to appear for an investigation, preliminary hearing, or trial in a case when the witnesses are summoned by a state attorney, and any other expert witnesses required in a court hearing by law or whomever the state attorney deems necessary for the performance of his or her duties.

(4) Reasonable transportation services in the performance of constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

(5) Travel expenses reimbursable under s. 112.061 reasonably necessary in the performance of constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

(6) Reasonable library and electronic legal research services, other than a public law library.

(7) Reasonable pretrial consultation fees and costs.

History. — s. 5, ch. 2000-237; s. 41, ch. 2003-402; s. 26, ch. 2004-265; s. 15, ch. 2005-236; s. 7, ch. 2019-3.

29.006 Indigent defense costs.

(1)(

a) The public defender of each judicial circuit and assistant public defenders and other staff as determined by general law.

(2) Reasonable court reporting and transcription services necessary to meet constitutional or statutory requirements, including the cost of transcribing and copying depositions of witnesses and the cost of foreign language and sign-language interpreters and translators.

(3) Witnesses, including expert witnesses, summoned to appear for an investigation, preliminary hearing, or trial in a case when the witnesses are summoned on behalf of an indigent defendant, and any other expert witnesses required in a court hearing by law or whomever the public defender or regional counsel deems necessary for the performance of his or her duties.

(4) Mental health professionals appointed pursuant to s. 394.473 and required in a court hearing involving an indigent, and mental health professionals appointed pursuant to s. 916.115(2) and required in a court hearing involving an indigent.

(5) Reasonable transportation services in the performance of constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

(6) Travel expenses reimbursable under s. 112.061 reasonably necessary in the performance of constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

(7) Reasonable library and electronic legal research services, other than a public law library.

(8) Reasonable pretrial consultation fees and costs.

History. — s. 6, ch. 2000-237; s. 42, ch. 2003-402; s. 27, ch. 2004-265; s. 17, ch. 2007-62; s. 8, ch. 2019-3.

29.007 Court-appointed counsel.

(1) Private attorneys appointed by the court to handle cases where the defendant is indigent and cannot be represented by the public defender or the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel.

(2) When the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel has a conflict of interest, private attorneys appointed by the court to represent indigents or other classes of litigants in civil proceedings requiring court-appointed counsel in accordance with state and federal constitutional guarantees and federal and state statutes.

(3) Reasonable court reporting and transcription services necessary to meet constitutional or statutory requirements, including the cost of transcribing and copying depositions of witnesses and the cost of foreign language and sign-language interpreters and translators.

(4) Witnesses, including expert witnesses, summoned to appear for an investigation, preliminary hearing, or trial in a case when the witnesses are summoned on behalf of an indigent, and any other expert witnesses approved by the court.

(5) Mental health professionals appointed pursuant to s. 394.473 and required in a court hearing involving an indigent, mental health professionals appointed pursuant to s. 916.115(2) and required in a court hearing involving an indigent, and any other mental health professionals required by law for the full adjudication of any civil case involving an indigent person.

(6) Reasonable pretrial consultation fees and costs.

(7) Travel expenses reimbursable under s. 112.061 reasonably necessary in the performance of constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

History. — s. 7, ch. 2000-237; s. 43, ch. 2003-402; s. 16, ch. 2005-236; s. 18, ch. 2007-62.

29.008 County funding of court-related functions.

(1) Counties are required by s. 14, Art. V of the State Constitution to fund the cost of communications services, existing radio systems, existing multiagency criminal justice information systems, and the cost of construction or lease, maintenance, utilities, and security of facilities for the circuit and county courts, public defenders’ offices, state attorneys’ offices, guardian ad litem offices, and the offices of the clerks of the circuit and county courts performing court-related functions.

For purposes of this section, the term “circuit and county courts” includes the offices and staffing of the guardian ad litem offices, and the term “public defenders’ offices” includes the offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel. The county designated under s. 35.05(1) as the headquarters for each appellate district shall fund these costs for the appellate division of the public defender’s office in that county. For purposes of implementing these requirements, the term:

(2) Counties shall pay reasonable and necessary salaries, costs, and expenses of the state courts system, including associated staff and expenses, to meet local requirements.

(3) The following shall be considered a local requirement pursuant to subparagraph (2)(a)1.:

(4)(

a) The Department of Financial Services shall review county expenditure reports required under s. 29.0085 for the purpose of ensuring that counties fulfill the responsibilities of this section. The department shall compare county fiscal reports to determine if expenditures for the items specified in paragraphs (1)(a)-(

h) and subsection (3) have increased by 1.5 percent over the prior county fiscal year. The initial review must compare county fiscal year 2005-2006 to county fiscal year 2004-2005. If the department finds that expenditures for the items specified in paragraphs (1)(a)-(

h) and subsection (3) have not increased by 1.5 percent over the prior county fiscal year, the department shall notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the respective county. The Legislature may determine that a county has met its obligations for items specified in this

section if the prior county fiscal year included nonrecurring expenditures for facilities or information technology that is not needed in the next county fiscal year or expenditures or actions that enable a county to attain efficiencies in providing services to the court system. The Legislature may direct the Department of Revenue to withhold revenue-sharing receipts distributed pursuant to

part II of

chapter 218, except for revenues used for paying the principal or interest on bonds, tax anticipation certificates, or any other form of indebtedness allowed under s. 218.25(1), (2), or (4), from any county that is not in compliance with the funding obligations in this

section by an amount equal to the difference between the amount spent and the amount that would have been spent had the county increased expenditures by 1.5 percent per year.

History. — s. 8, ch. 2000-237; s. 1, ch. 2001-265; ss. 44, 45, ch. 2003-402; s. 28, ch. 2004-265; s. 17, ch. 2005-236; s. 105, ch. 2006-120; s. 6, ch. 2006-122; s. 19, ch. 2007-6; s. 19, ch. 2007-62; s. 10, ch. 2010-153; s. 23, ch. 2011-47; s. 20, ch. 2012-119; s. 14, ch. 2013-41; s. 24, ch. 2014-53; s. 2, ch. 2016-11; s. 12, ch. 2022-163; s. 37, ch. 2024-70.

29.0081 County funding of additional court personnel.

(1) A county and the chief judge of a judicial circuit that includes that county may enter into an agreement under which the county funds personnel positions to assist in the operation of the circuit.

(2) The agreement shall, at a minimum, provide that:

(3) Positions funded under this

section shall not count against any formula or similar process used by the Office of the State Courts Administrator to determine personnel needs or levels of a judicial circuit.

(4) Nothing in this

section obligates the state to fund any personnel positions.

History. — s. 18, ch. 2005-236; s. 1, ch. 2007-170.

29.0085 Annual statement of certain revenues and expenditures.

(1) Each county shall submit annually to the Chief Financial Officer a statement of revenues and expenditures as set forth in this

section in the form and manner prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, provided that such statement identify total county expenditures on each of the services outlined in s. 29.008.

(2)(

a) Within 4 months of the close of the local government fiscal year, each county shall submit to the Chief Financial Officer a statement of compliance from its independent certified public accountant, engaged pursuant to s. 218.39, that the certified statement of expenditures was in accordance with s. 29.008 and this section. All discrepancies noted by the independent certified public accountant shall be included in the statement furnished by the county to the Chief Financial Officer.

(3) The Chief Financial Officer shall adopt any rules necessary to implement his or her responsibilities pursuant to this section.

History. — s. 46, ch. 2003-402; s. 8, ch. 2006-122; s. 15, ch. 2011-34.

29.012 Construction.

History. — s. 14, ch. 2000-237.

29.015 Contingency fund; limitation of authority to transfer funds in contracted due process services appropriation categories.

(1) An appropriation may be provided in the General Appropriations Act in the Justice Administrative Commission to serve as a contingency fund for the purpose of alleviating deficits in contracted due process services appropriation categories, including private court-appointed counsel appropriation categories, that may occur from time to time due to extraordinary cases that lead to unexpected expenditures.

(2) In the event that a state attorney, public defender, or criminal conflict and civil regional counsel incurs a deficit in a contracted due process services appropriation category or conflict counsel category, the following steps shall be taken in order:

(3) In the event that there is a deficit in a statewide contracted due process services appropriation category provided for private court-appointed counsel necessary due to withdrawal of the public defender and criminal conflict and civil regional counsel due to an ethical conflict, the following steps shall be taken in order:

(4) In the event that there is a deficit in a statewide appropriation category provided for private court-appointed counsel other than for conflict counsel as described in subsection (3), the following steps shall be taken in order:

(5) Notwithstanding any provisions in

chapter 216 to the contrary, no office shall transfer funds from a contracted due process services appropriation category or from a contingency fund category authorized in this

section except as specifically authorized in this section. In addition, funds shall not be transferred from a state attorney office to alleviate a deficit in a public defender office or an office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and funds shall not be transferred from a public defender office or regional counsel office to alleviate a deficit in a state attorney office.

History. — s. 49, ch. 2003-402; s. 19, ch. 2005-236; s. 20, ch. 2007-62.

29.016 Contingency fund; judicial branch.

(1) An appropriation may be provided in the General Appropriations Act for the judicial branch to serve as a contingency fund to alleviate deficits in contracted due process services appropriation categories that may occur from time to time due to extraordinary events that lead to unexpected expenditures.

(2) In the event that a chief judge incurs such a deficit, the following steps shall be taken in order:

(3) If no other circuits indicate that surplus funds are available to alleviate the deficit, the Trial Court Budget Commission may request the Chief Justice to request a budget amendment to transfer funds from the contingency fund. Such transfers shall be requested subject to the notice and review requirements set forth in s. 216.177. The Office of the State Courts Administrator shall include in the budget amendment documentation provided by the chief judge explaining the circumstances that led to the deficit and the steps taken to identify surplus funds to alleviate the deficit.

(4) Notwithstanding any provisions in

chapter 216 to the contrary, no circuit shall transfer funds from a contracted due process services appropriation category or from a contingency fund category authorized in this

section except as specifically authorized in this section.

History. — s. 50, ch. 2003-402; s. 30, ch. 2004-265.

29.017 Pending proceedings; applicability of ch. 2003-402.

History. — s. 146, ch. 2003-402.

29.018 Cost sharing of due-process services; legislative intent.

History. — s. 95, ch. 2004-265; s. 20, ch. 2005-236; s. 21, ch. 2007-62.

29.0185 Provision of state-funded due process services to individuals.

(1) Due process services may not be provided with state revenues to an individual unless the individual on whose behalf the due process services are being provided is eligible for court-appointed counsel under s. 27.40, based upon a determination of indigency under s. 27.52, regardless of whether such counsel is appointed or the individual on whose behalf the due process services are being provided is eligible for court-appointed counsel under s. 27.40 and has been determined indigent for costs pursuant to s. 27.52.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), state revenues may be used by the state courts system to provide court-appointed interpreting services to nonindigent individuals if funds are available in the fiscal year appropriation for due process services and if interpreting services are provided as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

History. — s. 21, ch. 2005-236; s. 1, ch. 2024-154.

29.019 Billings rendered for pre-July 1, 2004, services.

History. — s. 97, ch. 2004-265.

29.0195 Recovery of expenditures for state-funded services.

(1) The trial court administrator of each circuit shall recover expenditures for state-funded services when those services have been furnished to a user of the state court system who possesses the present ability to pay. The rate of compensation for such services is the actual cost of the services, including the cost of recovery. The trial court administrator shall deposit moneys recovered under this

section in the Administrative Trust Fund within the state courts system. The trial court administrator shall recover the costs of court reporter services and transcription; translations; and any other service for which state funds were used to provide a product or service within the circuit.

(2) This

section does not authorize cost recovery for court-appointed interpreting services, except translations, or cost recovery from entities described in ss. 29.005-29.007.

History. — s. 67, ch. 2005-236; s. 4, ch. 2006-23; s. 16, ch. 2010-162; s. 2, ch. 2024-154.

29.21 Department of Management Services to provide assistance in procuring services.

History. — s. 99, ch. 2004-265; s. 4, ch. 2005-2.

29.22 State Courts Revenue Trust Fund.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2009-7; s. 2, ch. 2011-19.

29.23 Salaries of certain positions in the judicial branch.

(1) The salaries of justices, judges of the district courts of appeal, circuit judges, and county judges shall be fixed annually in the General Appropriations Act.

(2) The clerk and the marshal of the Supreme Court, or a clerk or marshal of a district court of appeal, shall be paid an annual salary to be determined in accordance with s. 25.382(3).

History. — s. 11, ch. 2014-182.

29.24 Lactation spaces in courthouses.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, by January 1, 2024, each county courthouse must provide at least one dedicated lactation space outside the confines of a restroom for members of the public to express breast milk or breastfeed in private. The space must:

(2) The person responsible for the operation of the facility housing each district court of appeal may use state-appropriated funds or private funding to provide a lactation space as set forth in subsection (1).

(3) The requirements of subsection (1) do not apply to a courthouse if the person who is responsible for the operation of the courthouse determines that:

History. — s. 1, ch. 2023-88.