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With this program the State will not only be taking over some expenses being borne by the counties but equally important the thousands of witnesses subpoenaed annually will hopefully be coordinated in a more efficient manner lessening their invonvenience, in many cases, a financial hardship. Total annual witness costs now being paid by Indian River County, to be assumed by the State, can be obtained from your Clerk of Circuit Court. Our office has scheduled a meeting with personnel from the State Courts Administrator's Office for 9:00 A.M., Friday, June 4, 1982 in the St. Lucie County Courthouse. By separate letter we are inviting representatives of the State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, and Clerks of Circuit Courts of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. We also hope that someone representing the Indian River County Commission will be able to attend. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the existing witness coordination programs and how they operate, to give estimates for staffing an office for Indian River County and to relate how the lst Circuit (4 counties) and the 3rd Circuit (7 counties) are planning to comply with the new law so that they might receive witness funds on a reimbursement basis. It is hoped that with the assistance of the State Courts Administrator's Office, based on numbers of witnesses subpoenased, that staffing requirements will be supplied to you by June 15, 1982. For your further information there are presently in operation similar programs in Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Orange and Sarasota counties. These programs are funded by the individual counties, but of course, their costs will be assumed by the State beginning February 1, 1983. It is hoped that should this program prove successful it will be another step of the State taking over various court costs that are presently being borne by the counties. Very truly yours, Davi:d, glass Court Administrator Chairman Scurlock stated that he would like to attend that meeting and take another person with him - the meeting is in Fort Pierce. •4 On Motion by Commissioner Lyons, seconded by Commissioner Bird, the Board unanimously approved out -of -Country travel to Ft. Pierce, Florida for the Chairman and other appropriate persons to attend the meeting concerning witness fees. JUN 21982 11 (go to 15 ) �QQ S ` 49 w)t 870-