(a) (1) The Legislature finds that the management of civil and criminal cases, including traffic cases, and the accounting for funds in the trial courts requires these courts to implement appropriate levels of administrative automation.

(2) The purpose of this section is to make a fund available for the development of automated administrative systems, including automated accounting, automated data collection through case management systems, and automated case-processing systems for the trial courts, together with funds to train operating personnel, and for the maintenance and enhancement of the systems. As used in this paragraph, “automated administrative systems” does not include electronic reporting systems for use in a courtroom.

(3) Automated data collection shall provide the foundation for planning, research, and evaluation programs that are generated from within and outside of the judicial branch. This system shall be a resource to the courts, the Judicial Council and its committees, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Legislature, the Governor, and the public. During the developmental stage and prior to the implementation of the system, the Legislature shall make recommendations to the Judicial Council as to the breadth and level of detail of the data to be collected.

(b) Prior to making any other required distribution, the county treasurer shall transmit 2 percent of all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected in criminal cases, including, but not limited to, moneys collected pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 76000) of Title 8 of this code, Section 13003 of the Fish and Game Code, Section 11502 of the Health and Safety Code, and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1427) of Title 11 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, into the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund established pursuant to Section 77209, to be used exclusively to pay the costs of automated systems for the trial courts, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). These systems shall meet Judicial Council performance standards, including production of reports as needed by the state, the counties, and local governmental entities.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 41, Sec. 21. (SB 1021) Effective June 27, 2012.)