§ 849-h. Establishment and administration of program. 1. There is
hereby established a justice court assistance program (hereinafter
referred to in this article as the "program"), to be administered and
supervised under the direction of the chief administrator of the courts,
to provide funds pursuant to this article to assist the operation of
town and village justice courts. The chief administrator shall
promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this
article, including provisions for periodic monitoring and evaluation of
the program. Each town or village receiving funds pursuant to this
article shall comply with all such rules and regulations and with all
provisions of this article.

2. Funds available pursuant to this article may be used for any
purpose having as its end enhancement of the justice courts' ability to
provide suitable and sufficient services to their respective
communities. These purposes may include, but shall not be limited to,
automation of court operations; improvement or expansion of court
facilities; provision of appropriate means for the recording of court
proceedings; provision of lawbooks, treatises and related materials; and
provision of appropriate training for justices and for nonjudicial court
staff. Except as may otherwise be provided by rule of the chief
administrator, funds available pursuant to this article shall not be
used to compensate justices and nonjudicial court staff, nor shall they
be used as a means of reducing funding provided by a town or village to
its justice court.