Judicial branch travel expense reimbursement policy

(a) Adoption

The Judicial Council must adopt a fiscally responsible judicial branch travel expense reimbursement policy, under Government Code section 68506.5, that provides appropriate accountability for the use of public resources. Before adopting the initial policy, the Judicial Council must receive comments from the courts, court employee organizations, and other interested groups.

(b) Applicability

The judicial branch travel expense reimbursement policy applies to official state business travel by:

(1) Judicial officers and judicial officers sitting by assignment;

(2) Officers, employees, retired annuitants, and members of the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal, superior courts, the Judicial Council and its staff, the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, and the Commission on Judicial Performance; and

(3) Members of task forces, working groups, commissions, or similar bodies appointed by the Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, or the Administrative Director.

(c) Amendments

The Judicial Council delegates to the Administrative Director, under article VI, section 6(c) of the California Constitution and other applicable law, the authority to make technical changes and clarifications to the judicial branch travel expense reimbursement policy. The changes and clarifications must be fiscally responsible, provide for appropriate accountability, and be in general compliance with the policy initially adopted by the Judicial Council.