Authority: §§ 16.1-69.30, 16.1-69.33, 17.1-314 through 17.1-320 and 17.1-502, Code of Virginia.

A. The Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court shall submit a monthly summary to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, which will report the number of individuals for whom legal or medical services were provided and the nature and cost of such services as are authorized for payment from the criminal fund or the involuntary mental commitment fund.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 19.2-326, Code of Virginia, the amount of attorney's fees allowed counsel for indigent defendants in appeals to the Supreme Court shall be in the discretion of the Supreme Court.

C. The Chief Justice is authorized to reallocate legal support staff between the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, in order to meet changing workload demands.

D. Prior to January 1 of each year, the Judicial Council and the Committee on District Courts are requested to submit a fiscal impact assessment of their recommendations for the creation of any new judgeships, including the cost of judicial retirement, to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Courts of Justice, and the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.

E. Included in this Item is $3,750,000 the first year and $3,750,000 the second year from the general fund, which may support computer system improvements for the several circuit and district courts.

F. The Judicial Council of Virginia shall evaluate and make recommendations on the funding, resources, and statutory changes required to implement a system of family courts in Virginia pursuant to the provisions contained in Chapters 929 and 930 of the Acts of Assembly of 1993. In performing this evaluation, all state agencies shall cooperate, upon request, with the Judicial Council of Virginia. The Judicial Council of Virginia shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2005.

G.  Out of the amounts included for General Management and Direction, $300,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the estimated costs of fully implementing the Judicial Performance Evaluation Project.