SCR 70.12

(1) The basic components of the budget process for the judicial

branch shall include:

(a) The judicial branch, to the extent possible, will meet the same

budget development and preparation deadlines as are required of state

agencies.

(b) The judicial branch, to the extent practicable, will submit the

same narrative portion of the budget as is required of state agencies.

(1m) There shall be an internal budget request and review

procedure during the preparation of each biennial budget which involves:

(a) A budget procedural and policy direction memorandum by the

chief justice directed to all heads of judicial agencies under the

supervision of the supreme court. This should be sent out by June 30 of

every even-numbered year.

(b) A procedure requiring justification of existing programs and

positions as well as new programs and positions.

(c) A review of all requests from all components of the judicial

branch by the director of state courts and the supreme court finance

committee and a final decision by the director, after consultation with the

supreme court finance committee.

(d) A review by the chief justice and the supreme court of the

director's recommendation.

(e) Appeal to the supreme court of the director's decision only by

the chief judge of the court of appeals, chief judges of judicial

administrative districts and office of lawyer regulation and board of bar

examiners.

(f) A system of deadlines for each step in the judicial budget

preparation process.

(2) A process for public hearings may be established for requests

for additional courts. A process for public hearings for major new

programs or budget initiatives may be developed.

(3) The chief justice, with the assistance of the director of state

courts, shall be responsible for the presentation of the biennial budget of

the judicial branch to the joint committee on finance.

(4) The judicial branch shall establish a regular independent audit

procedure.

(5) The supreme court finance committee shall participate in

gathering and sharing budgetary information with the supreme court, in

regard to the preparation of the court system’s biennial budget, the court

system’s operational budgets, and the annual operational plan for the

grants that the supreme court administers.

(6) The supreme court finance committee shall meet at least four

times per calendar year. When practicable, such meetings shall occur in

March, June, September and December of each year. Meetings may be

held by teleconferencing.