(1)(a) A Supreme Court justice who permanently resides outside Leon County is eligible for the designation of a district court of appeal courthouse, a county courthouse, or another appropriate facility in his or her district of residence as his or her official headquarters for purposes of s. 112.061. This official headquarters may serve only as the justice’s private chambers.
(b)1. A justice for whom an official headquarters is designated in his or her district of residence under this subsection is eligible for subsistence at a rate to be established by the Chief Justice for each day or partial day that the justice is at the headquarters of the Supreme Court to conduct court business, as authorized by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice may authorize a justice to choose between subsistence based on lodging at a single-occupancy rate and meal reimbursement as provided in s. 112.061 and subsistence at a fixed rate prescribed by the Chief Justice.
2. In addition to subsistence, a justice is eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061(7) and (8) for travel between the justice’s official headquarters and the headquarters of the Supreme Court to conduct court business.
(c) Payment of subsistence and reimbursement for travel expenses between a justice’s official headquarters and the headquarters of the Supreme Court shall be made to the extent that appropriated funds are available, as determined by the Chief Justice.
(2) The Chief Justice shall coordinate with each affected justice and other state and local officials as necessary to implement subsection (1).
(3)(a) This section does not require a county to provide space in a county courthouse for a justice. A county may enter into an agreement with the Supreme Court governing the use of space in a county courthouse.
(b) The Supreme Court may not use state funds to lease space in a district court of appeal courthouse, county courthouse, or other facility to allow a justice to establish an official headquarters pursuant to subsection (1).
(4) The Chief Justice may establish parameters governing the authority provided in this section, including, but not limited to, specifying minimum operational requirements for the designated headquarters, limiting the number of days for which subsistence and travel reimbursement may be provided, and prescribing activities that qualify as the conduct of court business.
(5) If any term of this section conflicts with s. 112.061, this section shall control to the extent of the conflict.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2019-95; ss. 64, 115, ch. 2019-116; s. 1, ch. 2020-61.