The bill introduces a new chapter that mandates the creation of a judicial training coordinator position by January 1, 2025. This coordinator will be responsible for developing and administering training and continuing education programs for judges, administrators, and court staff under the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court. The bill outlines that all judges and nonjudicial employees hired after July 1, 2025, must complete an orientation and training program within three months of their hire date. The initial training for judges includes orientation on court procedures, education on major legal subjects and practical skills, and at least one hour of training on ethics, professionalism, implicit bias, mental health, and domestic violence.

Continuing education requirements are also established, with justices of the supreme court, superior court, and circuit court judges all required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education each year. Superior and circuit court clerks have a minimum requirement of 16 and 12 hours, respectively, while the director of the administrative office of the courts must complete at least 16 hours annually. The bill specifies that the new chapter regarding the judicial training coordinator will take effect 60 days after its passage, while the rest of the act will take effect on July 1, 2025. The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that there will be an increase in state expenditures to fund the position and the training programs, with estimated costs of $156,000 in FY 2025, $151,000 in FY 2026, and $157,000 in FY 2027. The bill does not provide funding to cover these expenditures, and the Judicial Branch will not be able to absorb the costs within its current budget. The bill also authorizes the creation of new positions to implement the bill's requirements.