THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2018-520 IN THE 2018 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2018. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT.

(a) The sums to be paid to the Baldwin County Commission, as herein provided, shall be kept in a special fund designated as the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund and shall be expended by the Presiding Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of Baldwin County, to create, establish, and maintain the law library and to provide for the more effective administration of justice, including, but not limited to: Paying the costs of securing the advice and attendance of witnesses; registration fees and other actual expenses incurred in attending seminars, institutes, conferences, and other meetings in connection with continuing legal and judicial education, membership fees, or dues in legal and judicial organizations; paying the salaries of court employees when necessary for the efficient operation of the courts; and any other actual and necessary expenses incurred by the judges of the circuit in promoting legal and judicial competency. The presiding circuit judge shall draw warrants on the county for expenditures by indicating on the warrants the funds against which the warrants are to be drawn. One dollar fifty cents ($1.50) from each fee in the fund shall be used primarily to purchase books, periodicals, and other library fixtures and equipment as, in the opinion of the presiding circuit judge, may be advisable, but to the extent not so used, the funds may be otherwise expended for the maintenance of the library. Thirteen dollars fifty cents ($13.50) from each fee in the fund shall be used for the purposes of judicial administration as provided in this section. The management of the law library is and shall be vested in the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Baldwin County, and all books, periodicals, reports, and other property purchased with the funds produced by this subpart shall be the property of Baldwin County. The presiding judge may from time to time sell or exchange the books, reports, periodicals, and personal property as may be necessary to keep the library up to date and apply the proceeds of the sale thereof or the value thereof upon the purchase of other books, reports, periodicals, and personal property for use in the library. The presiding judge of the circuit court may accept any gift or loan of any books, reports, periodicals, and other property for public use in the library upon the terms and conditions as may be stipulated by the donor or lender thereof and as may be agreeable to the judge. The presiding circuit judge may designate the clerk of the circuit court or any other suitable person to operate or assist in the operation of the library. The funds established by this subpart shall be audited in the same manner as other county funds are audited.

(b)(1) A person employed by the presiding circuit judge for 20 hours a week as a law librarian to operate or assist in the operation of the law library shall be eligible to participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama.

(2) Any funds necessary for the administration of this subsection shall be taken from the Baldwin County Law Library Operating Fund and shall be paid to the Baldwin County Commission.