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1 AN ACT making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and
2 functioning of the Judicial Branch of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
3 and its various officers, boards, commissions, subdivisions, and other state-supported
4 activities.
5 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
6 Section 1. The Judicial Branch Budget is as follows:
7 PART I
8 OPERATING BUDGET
9 (1) Funds Appropriations: There is appropriated out of the General Fund,
10 Restricted Funds accounts, or Federal Funds accounts for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
11 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
12 June 30, 2027, and for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027, and ending June 30, 2028,
13 the following sums to be used for the purposes of the Judicial Branch of the government
14 of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals,
15 Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, the Administrative Office of the Courts,
16 Judicial Retirement, Local Facilities Fund, Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency
17 Fund, and for services performed by the Circuit Court Clerks' offices, including both
18 Circuit and District Court support.
19 A. JUDICIAL BRANCH
20 Budget Units
21 1. COURT OF JUSTICE
22 a. Court Operations and Administration
23 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
24 General Fund -0- 344,440,300 348,471,700
25 Restricted Funds 13,629,600 57,506,000 57,853,700
26 Federal Funds -0- 1,546,600 1,391,000
27 TOTAL 13,629,600 403,492,900 407,716,400
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1 (1) Full Funding of Current Services: Included in the above General Fund
2 appropriation is $5,000,000 in each fiscal year to support additional judgeships
3 established in the 2022 Regular Session.
4 (2) Funds Required to Maintain Mandated Services: Included in the above
5 General Fund appropriation is $7,561,000 in fiscal year 2026-2027 and $7,200,000 in
6 fiscal year 2027-2028 to maintain mandated services including information technology
7 subscription fees, audio/visual system upgrades, and contractor rate increases.
8 (3) Civil Filing Fees: Pursuant to its authority, if the Supreme Court increases
9 civil filing fees, the additional income resulting from the fee increases, not to exceed
10 $20,468,100 in each fiscal year, shall be deposited into a trust and agency account for
11 court operations and salaries for non-elected personnel. Any revenue generated by the
12 increase in excess of the $20,468,100 in each fiscal year shall be deposited into the
13 General Fund. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall prepare a report with
14 recommendations for changes to civil filing fees, including but not limited to the amount
15 of revenue generated from any proposed changes, the use of any additional revenue
16 generated, the number of Circuit and District Court filings for the prior three years, and a
17 schedule for any future changes to fee structure. The report shall be submitted to the
18 Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue by October 1, 2027.
19 (4) Utilization of Video Arraignment Technology: (a) Notwithstanding any
20 statute to the contrary, courts shall use the video arraignment system set forth in 2021 Ky.
21 Acts ch. 194, sec. 14(1)(a), when available.
22 (b) Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, if a court does not use the video
23 arraignment system referenced in paragraph (a) of this subsection, when available, the
24 Administrative Office of the Courts shall be responsible for the costs associated with
25 transporting prisoners to and from arraignments. The Administrative Office of the Courts
26 shall prepare a report to be submitted to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations
27 and Revenue by October 1, 2027, detailing the utilization of the video arraignment
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1 system, including identifying any impediments that decrease utilization, by courtroom
2 and by judge.
3 (5) Operating Expense Reduction: The State Auditor has identified that in fiscal
4 year 2024-2025, the Judicial Branch spent $5,088,350 on the expense code Other (E399).
5 The Chief Justice and the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall
6 prepare a report detailing the expenditures on expense code Other (E399) including, but
7 not limited to drug testing, cloud services, and information technology services. The
8 Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit the report to the Interim
9 Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue by October 1, 2026.
10 (6) Support for Current Services: Pursuant to KRS 27A.055(4), included in the
11 above Restricted Funds appropriation is $13,629,600 in fiscal year 2025-2026 to support
12 the Court Operations and Administration budget unit and replace, in part, reduced
13 revenues received by the Master Commissioner’s Fund established in KRS 31A.010(4).
14 Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any portion of these funds that have not been expended by
15 the end of fiscal year 2025-2026 shall not lapse and shall carry forward into fiscal year
16 2026-2027, and any portion of these funds that have not been expended by the end of
17 fiscal year 2026-2027 shall not lapse and shall carry forward into fiscal year 2027-2028.
18 b. Local Facilities Fund
19 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
20 General Fund -0- 136,303,000 149,205,200
21 Restricted Funds 8,910,400 8,380,000 380,000
22 TOTAL 8,910,400 144,683,000 149,585,200
23 (1) Uninsured Costs Due to Flooding: Pursuant to KRS 27A.055(4), included in
24 the above Restricted Funds appropriation is $8,910,400 in fiscal year 2025-2026 for file
25 restoration, remediation, and repairs due to flooding in Franklin and Hardin Counties.
26 Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any unexpended funds shall not lapse and shall carry
27 forward.
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1 (2) Local Facility Projects: Included in the above General Fund appropriation is
2 $13,652,200 in fiscal year 2027-2028 to support the use allowance costs for five judicial
3 centers authorized by the 2024 General Assembly.
4 (3) Funding of Current Services: Included in the above General Fund
5 appropriation is $1,000,000 in each fiscal year to fund current services.
6 (4) Boyle County Temporary Space and Fit-up: Pursuant to KRS 27A.055(4),
7 included in the above Restricted Funds appropriation is $5,260,000 in fiscal year 2026-
8 2027 and $260,000 in fiscal year 2027-2028 for leased space and fit-up for all court and
9 clerk functions.
10 (5) Boyle County - Use Allowance: Included in the above General Fund
11 appropriation is $192,300 in each fiscal year to support use allowance for Boyle County.
12 (6) Bell County Temporary Space and Fit-up: Pursuant to KRS 27A.055(4),
13 included in the above Restricted Funds appropriation is $3,120,000 in fiscal year 2026-
14 2027 and $120,000 in fiscal year 2027-2028 for leased space and fit-up for all court and
15 clerk functions.
16 (7) Bell County Use Allowance and Equipment: Included in the above General
17 Fund appropriation is $2,806,100 in fiscal year 2026-2027 to support use allowance and
18 equipment and $2,056,100 in fiscal year 2027-2028 to support use allowance. The
19 Administrative Office of the Courts shall pursue any and all potential claims for liability
20 associated with damages stemming from subpar construction of the Bell County Judicial
21 Center.
22 (8) Local Court Facility Compensation: Included in the above General Fund
23 appropriation are moneys to compensate local units of government for providing court
24 space and for costs incurred in the development of local court facilities as defined in KRS
25 Chapter 26A and provided for in Part II, Capital Projects Budget, of this Act, and to
26 perform all other acts required or authorized by KRS Chapter 26A.
27 (9) Use Allowance Payments to Counties: Pursuant to KRS 26A.090(2),
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1 beginning with court facility construction or renovation projects authorized by the 2000
2 Regular Session of the General Assembly and all subsequent court facility projects, use
3 allowance payments are restricted to the court's proportional share of the annual principal
4 and interest costs in connection with the construction or renovation of the facility, not to
5 exceed the authorized annual use allowance.
6 (10) Court Facility Maintenance Fund: (a) Notwithstanding KRS
7 26A.090(2), when there is no debt on court facility construction or renovation projects
8 authorized prior to the 2000 Regular Session of the General Assembly, use allowance is
9 restricted to compensation equal to two percent annually of capital costs to be paid to the
10 county unit of government and two percent annually to be retained by the Administrative
11 Office of the Courts and directed to a separate fund specifically for maintenance of court
12 facilities.
13 (b) The fund created pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be used for
14 routine, ongoing, planned, and unanticipated maintenance for court facilities.
15 (c) Notwithstanding KRS 45.750, any maintenance project estimated to cost
16 $3,000,000 or less for a local court facility is not considered to be a capital project
17 requiring authorization of the General Assembly in the Judicial Branch Budget and may
18 be completed using funds appropriated to the Judicial Branch for maintenance of local
19 facilities or other agency funds of the Judicial Branch. The Administrative Office of the
20 Courts shall report any maintenance project estimated to cost between $1,000,000 and
21 $3,000,000 to the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee.
22 (11) Maintenance Pool: Included in the above General Fund appropriation is
23 $3,000,000 in each fiscal year to create a maintenance pool for planned and unanticipated
24 non-capital projects for local courthouses and judicial centers.
25 (12) Asset Preservation Pool - HVAC, Roof, and Electrical Upgrades: The
26 Administrative Office of the Courts shall prepare a report on the Asset Preservation -
27 HVAC, Roof, Electrical project authorized in 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 148, Part II, A., 1., 007.,
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1 including but not limited to the projects funded in the asset preservation pool, the current
2 status of each project and projected completion date, and the amount expended on each
3 project and for the pool in total. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit this
4 report on a quarterly basis beginning November 1, 2026, to the Interim Joint Committee
5 on Appropriations and Revenue.
6 (13) Asset Preservation Pool - Renovations: The Administrative Office of the
7 Courts shall prepare a report on the Asset Preservation - Renovations project authorized
8 in 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 148, Part II, A., 1., 008., including but not limited to the projects
9 funded in the asset preservation pool, the current status of each project and projected
10 completion date, and the amount expended on each project and for the pool in total. The
11 Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit this report on a quarterly basis
12 beginning November 1, 2026, to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and
13 Revenue.
14 c. Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund
15 (1) Funds Carry Forward: Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any unexpended
16 balance remaining at the close of fiscal year 2025-2026 shall not lapse and shall continue
17 into fiscal year 2026-2027, and any unexpended balance remaining at the close of fiscal
18 year 2026-2027 shall not lapse and shall continue into fiscal year 2027-2028 to provide
19 for cost overruns in authorized court facilities projects not to exceed 15 percent of the use
20 allowance in accordance with KRS Chapter 26A.
21 TOTAL – COURT OF JUSTICE
22 General Fund -0- 480,743,300 497,676,900
23 Restricted Funds 22,540,000 65,886,000 58,233,700
24 Federal Funds -0- 1,546,600 1,391,000
25 TOTAL 22,540,000 548,175,900 557,301,600
26 2. JUDICIAL FORM RETIREMENT SYSTEM
27 2026-27 2027-28
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1 Restricted Funds 645,500 652,300
2 (1) Administrative Expenses: Pursuant to KRS 21.540, administrative expenses
3 shall be paid out of an administrative account which shall be funded by transfers of the
4 necessary moneys, in appropriate ratio, from the funds described in KRS 21.550 and
5 21.560. Notwithstanding Part III, 7. of this Act, Restricted Funds appropriations may be
6 increased to ensure sufficient funding to support the Judicial Form Retirement System.
7 (2) Pension Benefit Increase: Notwithstanding KRS 21.405(5), no pension
8 benefit increase shall be granted to recipients of a retirement allowance under KRS
9 21.345 to 21.580 on July 1, 2026, or July 1, 2027.
10 TOTAL - JUDICIAL BRANCH
11 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
12 General Fund -0- 480,743,300 497,676,900
13 Restricted Funds 22,540,000 66,531,500 58,886,000
14 Federal Funds -0- 1,546,600 1,391,000
15 TOTAL 22,540,000 548,821,400 557,953,900
16 PART II
17 CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGET
18 (1) Authorization of Capital Projects: It is the intent of the General Assembly
19 that any capital project proposed by any state government entity, including the agencies
20 and subdivisions of the Court of Justice, shall be authorized by the General Assembly
21 prior to the project’s financing and construction, in accordance with KRS 7A.010,
22 7A.120, 45.750, 45.760, 45.763, 45.765, and 48.110. Pursuant to KRS 45.760(1), the
23 amount allotted, from all sources, for expenditure on any capital project, including leases
24 as defined by KRS 45.750, shall not exceed the estimated cost as shown in this Act.
25 (2) Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee: Capital construction
26 projects and major items of equipment that are not specifically listed in this Act may be
27 authorized only after submission of the project to the Capital Projects and Bond
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1 Oversight Committee and in accordance with the other requirements of KRS 45.760(7).
2 Moneys may be transferred to the allotment account of any capital project only after
3 submission of the project to the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee and in
4 accordance with the other requirements of KRS 45.760(6). As required by KRS 45.760,
5 all capital construction items authorized in this Act shall be constructed in accordance
6 with this Act, supporting documentation considered by the General Assembly, and
7 Judicial Branch budget records. Any modifications to the scope of a capital construction
8 project or to a lease shall be reported to the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight
9 Committee before execution.
10 (3) Deferred Funding: General Fund support to provide operating costs of
11 $1,911,000 and $3,000,000 for nonrecurring equipment and furniture for five projects
12 authorized by the 2024 General Assembly is deferred to the 2028-2030 fiscal biennium.
13 (4) Court Facility Planning Process: A feasibility study completed by a
14 certified architect not otherwise involved with the project shall be provided to the Project
15 Development Board to assist in making a determination whether the needs of the
16 community and the Court of Justice can best be met through the construction of a
17 freestanding building, or through an addition and/or renovation of the existing court
18 facility.
19 (5) Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund: For any court facility
20 project which is occupied and use allowance funding is insufficient, the use allowance
21 payments shall be approved from the Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund.
22 If funds are not available in the Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund, the
23 Chief Justice may transfer funds from other Judicial Branch accounts to make the
24 necessary payments.
25 (6) Facility Title: Pursuant to KRS Chapter 26A, Hardin County shall accept title
26 to the facility as set out in 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 162, Part II, A., 2., 004., Hardin County -
27 HVAC Project, within six months of notification by the Administrative Office of the
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1 Courts of the completion of the project. Notwithstanding KRS Chapter 26A.090(2), no
2 use allowance shall be provided for this facility if Hardin County does not accept title as
3 provided in this subsection.
4 A. JUDICIAL BRANCH
5 Budget Unit 2026-27 2027-28
6 1. LOCAL FACILITIES FUND
7 Project Project Scope
8 001. Boyle County - Roof Replacement 2,000,000
9 002. Bell County - Renovation 20,910,000
10 2. LEASE AUTHORIZATIONS
11 001. Franklin County - Lease - Court of Appeals
12 002. Jefferson County - Lease - Parking
13 003. Madison County - Lease - Family Court
14 PART III
15 GENERAL PROVISIONS
16 1. Expenditure Authority: The Director of the Administrative Office of the
17 Courts, with the approval of the Chief Justice, may expend any of the funds appropriated
18 for court operations and administration in any lawful manner and for any legal purpose
19 that the Chief Justice shall authorize or direct. No executive agency of state government
20 shall have the power to restrict or limit the expenditure of funds appropriated to the
21 Judicial Branch of government, except that funds appropriated in this Act shall not be
22 expended for any purpose not specifically authorized by the General Assembly in this
23 Act. The Court of Justice shall prepare a report of actual expenditures citing specific
24 statutory or budgetary authorization for the reported expenditures and detailing
25 expenditures for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Family Court,
26 District Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Retirement, Local Facilities
27 Fund, Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund, and for services performed by
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1 the Circuit Court Clerks' offices. The Court of Justice shall provide this report on a
2 quarterly basis to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.
3 2. Severability of Budget Provisions: Appropriation items and sums in this Act
4 conform to KRS 48.311. If any section, any subsection, or any provision thereof shall be
5 invalid or unconstitutional, the decision of the courts shall not affect or impair any of the
6 remaining sections, subsections, or provisions.
7 3. Duplicate Appropriations: Any appropriation item and sum in this Act and
8 in an appropriation provision in another Act of the 2026 Regular Session of the General
9 Assembly which constitutes a duplicate appropriation shall be governed by KRS 48.312.
10 4. Priority of Individual Appropriations: KRS 48.313 shall control when a
11 total or subtotal figure in this Act conflicts with the sum of the appropriations of which it
12 consists.
13 5. Carry Forward of Funds: Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, any unexpended
14 balance remaining at the close of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, June 30, 2027,
15 and June 30, 2028, shall not lapse and shall continue into the next fiscal year.
16 6. Final Budget Document: The Director of the Administrative Office of the
17 Courts shall prepare a final budget document reflecting the 2026-2028 biennial budget of
18 the Court of Justice. A copy shall be provided to the Legislative Research Commission,
19 and an informational copy shall be furnished to the Finance and Administration Cabinet,
20 within 60 days of the adjournment of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
21 7. Appropriations Revisions: Notwithstanding KRS 48.630(10), no
22 appropriation from any fund source shall exceed the sum specified in this Act until the
23 Judicial Branch has documented the necessity, purpose, use, and source, and the
24 documentation has been submitted to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and
25 Revenue at least 30 days in advance for its review and action. The Director of the
26 Administrative Office of the Courts shall notify, on a timely basis, the Legislative
27 Research Commission of the most current estimates of anticipated receipts for the
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1 affected fiscal year and an accompanying statement which explains variations from the
2 anticipated amount.
3 8. Maximum Salary of Trial Commissioners: Notwithstanding KRS
4 24A.100(3), no trial commissioner shall be compensated at a rate greater than $2,000 per
5 year. No funding is provided for trial commissioners commissioned in counties with a
6 residing District Judge.
7 9. Authorized Personnel Complement: On July 1, 2026, the Administrative
8 Office of the Courts shall establish a record for each budget unit of authorized permanent
9 full-time and all other positions based upon the enacted Judicial Budget of the
10 Commonwealth and any adjustments authorized by provisions in this Act. The total
11 number of filled permanent full-time and all other positions shall not exceed the
12 authorized complements pursuant to this section. The Director of the Administrative
13 Office of the Courts may request an increase in the number of authorized positions to the
14 Chief Justice. Upon approval, the Administrative Office of the Courts may authorize the
15 employment of individuals in addition to the authorized complement. A report of the
16 actions authorized in this section shall be provided to the Interim Joint Committee on
17 Appropriations and Revenue on a monthly basis.
18 10. Debt Restructuring: Notwithstanding any other provision of the Kentucky
19 Revised Statutes, use allowance payments shall not be amended to reflect debt
20 restructuring transactions undertaken by a county during the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium.
21 11. Court Facility Maintenance Fund Report: For each of the periods ending
22 June 30, 2026, June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028, the Director of the Administrative
23 Office of the Courts shall prepare a court facility maintenance report. This report shall
24 detail all court facility maintenance undertaken by the Court of Justice, to include any
25 cost-sharing with counties, as well as detail regarding future maintenance needs. This
26 report shall include a statewide expenditure summary followed by individual county
27 expenditures detailing the state's and county's respective share of expenditures. The
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1 Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide this report to the Interim Joint
2 Committee on Appropriations and Revenue by September 15 of each fiscal year.
3 12. Biennial Audits: The Auditor of Public Accounts shall have the right to
4 review, upon request, the accountant’s work papers.
5 13. Budgetary Restructuring: The Court of Justice shall prepare a report to be
6 submitted to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue by September
7 1 of each fiscal year detailing the existing budget processes of the Court of Justice and
8 the actual expenditure of funds from the prior fiscal year and budgeted expenditures for
9 the current fiscal year by fund source and individual location or office, for the Supreme
10 Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, Administrative
11 Office of the Courts, Judicial Retirement, Local Facilities Fund, Local Facilities Use
12 Allowance Contingency Fund, and for services performed by the Circuit Court Clerks'
13 offices.
14 14. Unexpended Use Allowance: Notwithstanding any provision of the
15 Kentucky Revised Statutes, any General Fund moneys appropriated for project-related
16 expenses or use allowance payments in fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 that are
17 not expended specifically for project-related expenses or use allowance payments in the
18 fiscal year in which appropriated shall be transferred to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund
19 Account (KRS 48.705).
20 15. Salary Increase for Personnel: Notwithstanding KRS 64.480(2), included in
21 the General Fund, Restricted Funds, and Federal Funds appropriations in Part I of this
22 Act are sufficient funds to support a two percent salary increase on the base salary and
23 wages of each eligible employee effective July 1, 2026, and a two percent increase on the
24 base salary or wages of each eligible employee effective July 1, 2027.
25 16. Application for Federal Funds: Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary,
26 the Court of Justice shall report to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and
27 Revenue, within 30 days, any new federally funded programs for which funding had not
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1 previously been awarded without authorization by the General Assembly.
2 17. Operational Expenditures Data: The Director of the Administrative Office
3 of the Courts shall, by October 1, 2026, submit a report to the Legislative Oversight and
4 Investigations Committee and the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and
5 Revenue with the following information and data pertaining to the historical and
6 projected operational expenditures for each budget unit:
7 (1) Identifying information of the budget unit; and
8 (2) A description of each program, function, service, or benefit provided by the
9 budget unit, including but not limited to the following:
10 (a) Measurable outcome data for the program, function, service, or benefit
11 provided in fiscal year 2025-2026 and projected for fiscal years 2026–2027 and 2027–
12 2028 for programs, functions, services, or benefits that are statutorily mandated;
13 (b) Measurable outcome data for the program, function, service, or benefit
14 provided in fiscal year 2025-2026 and projected for fiscal years 2026–2027 and 2027–
15 2028 for programs, functions, services, or benefits that are not statutorily mandated;
16 (c) Identification of any contracts or grants with other state budget units or
17 external providers engaged to provide or assist in providing the program, function,
18 service, or benefit in fiscal years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, or 2027-2028;
19 (d) The number of full-time, part-time, and other filled positions assigned to the
20 program, function, service, or benefit on July 1 of each fiscal year;
21 (e) The number and projected cost of all temporary manpower service personnel
22 assigned to the program, function, service, or benefit as of July 1 each fiscal year;
23 (f) The actual expenditures, by fund source, for each program, function, service,
24 or benefit for fiscal year 2025-2026;
25 (g) The projected expenditures, by fund source, by fiscal year, for each program,
26 function, service, or benefit for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028; and
27 (h) The actual balance of any Restricted Funds or Agency Trust Funds assigned
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1 to the program, function, service, or benefit as of July 1, 2026, and projected to be on
2 July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028.
3 The information shall be submitted only in a format prescribed by the Legislative
4 Oversight and Investigations Committee.
5 The Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall, within 30 days,
6 provide any follow-up or additional information on the programs, functions, services, or
7 benefits requested by the Legislative Research Commission or a subcommittee thereof.
8 18. Budget Implementation: The General Assembly directs the Judicial Branch
9 to carry out all appropriations and budgetary language provisions as contained in the
10 Judicial Branch Budget. The Legislative Research Commission shall review quarterly
11 expenditure data to determine if the Judicial Branch is out of compliance with this
12 directive. If the Legislative Research Commission suspects that the Judicial Branch has
13 acted in nonconformity with this section, the Legislative Research Commission may
14 order an audit or review at the Judicial Branch's expense. Such audit findings, reviews,
15 and reports shall be subject to the Kentucky Open Records Act. The Chief Justice shall
16 provide, in the form and manner prescribed by the Legislative Research Commission, a
17 comprehensive annual report, beginning September 1, 2026, to the Interim Joint
18 Committee on Appropriations and Revenue detailing expenditures related to the
19 appropriations contained within the budgetary language provisions for each budget unit
20 within the Judicial Branch. If a budget unit does not expend the full General Fund
21 appropriation contained within a budgetary language provision, the unexpended funds
22 shall be transferred to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund Account (KRS 48.705).
23 19. Budgetary Priorities: Funds appropriated in this Act are deemed sufficient to
24 maintain the mandatory functions of the Court of Justice. The Chief Justice shall
25 prioritize the expenditure of funds to maintain current service levels of the constitutional
26 functions of the Court of Justice and shall have the discretion to fund any additional
27 functions to the extent funds are available. If, in the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium, the Chief
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1 Justice identifies a budget shortfall, reductions shall be made to those functions not
2 explicitly authorized by statute or the Constitution of Kentucky.
3 PART IV
4 BUDGET REDUCTION OR SURPLUS EXPENDITURE PLAN
5 The Judicial Branch shall participate in any Budget Reduction Plan or Surplus
6 Expenditure Plan in accordance with KRS Chapter 48, except that obligations essential to
7 the constitutional duties and use allowance of the Judicial Branch shall be exempt from
8 any Budget Reduction Plan. The level of participation in a Budget Reduction Plan shall
9 be at the discretion of the Chief Justice and shall not exceed the actual percentage of
10 revenue shortfall.
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