(a) The salary of a trial court administrator shall:
(1) Be exempt from the provisions of the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, § 21-5-201 et seq.;
(2) Not exceed the maximum annual salary rate authorized by the General Assembly in the applicable appropriation act; and
(3) Be determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(b) The salaries, together with expenses authorized by law for trial court administrators to be paid from state funds, shall be paid with moneys appropriated by the General Assembly from the Trial Court Administrator Fund.
(c) The total amount of salaries paid to trial court administrators and other distributions of the Trial Court Administrator Fund shall not exceed:
(1) The total annual allocation authorized by the General Assembly from the State Administration of Justice Fund to the Trial Court Administrator Fund; and
(2) Any remaining balances in the Trial Court Administrator Fund.