(1) There is hereby created a Justice Administrative Commission, with headquarters located in the state capital. The necessary office space for use of the commission shall be furnished by the proper state agency in charge of state buildings. For purposes of the fees imposed on agencies pursuant to s. 287.057(22), the Justice Administrative Commission shall be exempt from such fees.

(2) Members of the Justice Administrative Commission shall serve for a period of 2 years, with the terms of each dating from July 1, 1985, except that initially, one state attorney member and one public defender member shall each serve a 1-year term. Members shall be selected in the following manner:

(a) Two state attorneys, to be appointed by the president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

(b) Two public defenders, to be appointed by the president of the Florida Public Defender Association.

(3) The members of the Justice Administrative Commission are authorized to perform necessary travel incident to official business of the commission and shall be reimbursed therefor in accordance with the provisions of s. 112.061.

(4)(a) The Justice Administrative Commission shall employ an executive director and fix his or her salary. The executive director shall employ any necessary personnel for the efficient performance of the commission according to a classification and pay plan annually approved by the commission.

(b) All employees of or within the commission are exempt from the Career Service System provided in chapter 110 and, notwithstanding s. 110.205(5), are not included in the Senior Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service. The commission shall annually approve a classification plan and salary and benefits plan.

(c) Employees in permanent positions must be offered benefits comparable to those offered under the Career Service System.

(d) The commission may offer benefits in excess of those offered under the Career Service System only to employees who are appointed to positions designated as having managerial or policymaking duties or positions requiring membership in The Florida Bar.

(e) By January 15 of each year, the commission shall submit to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a listing of all positions receiving benefits greater than those benefits offered under the Career Service System. Any change in the positions that are offered greater benefits or any change in the level of benefits is subject to the notice and objection procedures of s. 216.177.

(5) The duties of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) The maintenance of a central state office for administrative services and assistance when possible to and on behalf of the state attorneys and public defenders of Florida, the capital collateral regional counsel of Florida, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and the Guardian Ad Litem Program.

(b) Each state attorney, public defender, and criminal conflict and civil regional counsel and the Guardian Ad Litem Program shall continue to prepare necessary budgets, vouchers that represent valid claims for reimbursement by the state for authorized expenses, and other things incidental to the proper administrative operation of the office, such as revenue transmittals to the Chief Financial Officer and automated systems plans, but will forward such items to the commission for recording and submission to the proper state officer. However, when requested by a state attorney, a public defender, a criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, or the Guardian Ad Litem Program, the commission will either assist in the preparation of budget requests, voucher schedules, and other forms and reports or accomplish the entire project involved.

(6) The commission, each state attorney, each public defender, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, the capital collateral regional counsel, and the Guardian Ad Litem Program shall establish and maintain internal controls designed to:

(a) Prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse as defined in s. 11.45(1).

(b) Promote and encourage compliance with applicable laws, rules, contracts, grant agreements, and best practices.

(c) Support economical and efficient operations.

(d) Ensure reliability of financial records and reports.

(e) Safeguard assets.

(7) The provisions contained in this section shall be supplemental to those of chapter 27, relating to state attorneys, public defenders, criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel; to those of chapter 39, relating to the Guardian Ad Litem Program; or to other laws pertaining hereto.

(8) Chapter 120 does not apply to the Justice Administrative Commission.

History.—ss. 1-6, ch. 65-328; s. 1, ch. 78-174; s. 1, ch. 85-46; s. 4, ch. 85-332; s. 259, ch. 95-147; s. 98, ch. 2003-261; s. 64, ch. 2003-402; s. 42, ch. 2004-265; s. 29, ch. 2005-236; s. 7, ch. 2006-1; s. 2, ch. 2006-18; s. 22, ch. 2006-79; s. 23, ch. 2007-62; s. 8, ch. 2009-204; s. 4, ch. 2010-151; s. 10, ch. 2013-44; s. 5, ch. 2019-15.