Laserfiche WebLink
JUN 21982 �Qox 49 FAH869 <br />of Al=iba <br />DAVID S. DOUGLASSi�i$ "t J��u41«1 ROOM 401 <br />COURT ADMINISTRATOR COUNTY COURTHOUSE <br />FORT PIERCE, FLA. 334SO <br />May 20, 1982 <br />PHONE: (305) 461-0210 <br />��h2521 �8� . <br />1o,�`L.�� <br />N <br />Board of CountyCommissioners o er , VN' <br />: o al) <br />Indian River County ti 0� , <br />County Courthouse o`o� <br />Vero Beach, Fla. 32960 <br />Dear Commissioners: <br />In the most recent special session of the Legislature HB0009-D <br />was passed in reference to witness coordination offices throughout <br />the State of Florida and State assumption of witness fees now paid <br />by the counties. Attached is a copy of -this legislation and the <br />wording of intent from the Appropriations Bill which states that the <br />witness fees will be paid by the State, "upon the matching con- <br />tributions by each county of sufficient personnel and funds to <br />establish a witness coordination office for all witnesses". <br />The Stag of Florida is presently paying witness costs for <br />State Attorney investigations and witnesses appearing before the <br />Grand Jury. It is my understanding after reading the attached Bill <br />and attending a meeting in Jacksonville on Monday, May 17th, that <br />witnesses for preliminary hearings, witnesses for State Attorney <br />depositions, witnesses for Public Defender or indigent defendant <br />depositions, witnesses at trial on behalf of the State Attorney or <br />Public Defender or indigent defendants, expert psychiatric witnesses <br />for trial of indigent defendants, and expert psychiatric witnesses <br />for indigent Baker Act defendants, all of which are presently being <br />paid out of county funds will in the future be paid out of State <br />funds as.a result of IB0009-D. For your information, the meeting in <br />Jacksonville last Monday was attended by Court Administrators from <br />throughout the State of Florida, representatives of the Florida <br />Association of County Commissioners, representatives of the Florida <br />Association of Court Clerks, legislative staff who worked on this <br />recently passed law and Donald Conn, State Courts Administrator, and <br />representatives of his office who will be responsible for assisting <br />in staffing req ireumts and procedures to be followed by the various <br />witness coordination offices that are set up throughout the_State <br />of Florida. <br />It has been estimated by staffs of the'Legislature that the <br />assumption of the above mentioned witness costs statewide would <br />be an annual expenditure of $6,000,000. The recent special session <br />appropriated $2,463,140. This has been calculated to cover the <br />necessary funds for a five month period. Consequently. State assumption <br />of costs for these witnesses will begin on a reimbursement basis to <br />participating counties beginning February 1, 1983. <br />It is hoped that those counties who quality for the setting <br />up of witness coordination offices will budget funds for personnel, <br />office space, supplies and equipment beginning October 1, 1982. The <br />State Courts Administrator's Office plans to conduct seminars for new <br />personnel during November and December, 1982. <br />Based on information -concerning the number of witnesses subpoenaed <br />annually by the State Attorney and Public Defender, the State Courts <br />Administrator's Office will be assisting our office in estimating the <br />personnel needed on a county'by county basis._ <br />