Section 12-1-18 Reimbursement of Travel Expenses of Circuit Judges, District Court Judges, Municipal Judges, Court-Supportive Personnel, Etc.; Effect of Failure to Attend Educational Conference, Seminar, Etc., When Attendance Ordered.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to reimbursement of traveling expenses of public officers and employees, all circuit judges, district court judges and court-supportive personnel, including, but not limited to, referees, clerks, registers, official court reporters, special roving court reporters, special court reporters, bailiffs, magistrates of district courts and employees of clerks’ offices and registers’ offices, shall be entitled to be reimbursed their necessary and reasonable expenses of travel, including, but not limited to, transportation costs, meals, lodging, registration fees, tuition fees and membership fees, whenever traveling on official business from the town or city of their office to other locations, regardless of whether said location is located within or outside their circuits or districts or whenever ordered by the Chief Justice to attend a conference, seminar, college, institute or other educational meeting. (b) Whenever attendance at such an educational conference, seminar, college, institute or other educational meeting is ordered, nonattendance may be considered a neglect of an official duty, unless excused in advance by the Administrative Director of Courts, the Court Administrator or Chief Justice. (c) Whenever any municipal, probate or trial court judge, including any retired or supernumerary municipal, probate or trial court judge, is assigned by the Chief Justice for temporary service in any court or when requested to attend any conference, seminar, college, institute or other educational meeting by the Administrative Director of Courts, such director is authorized to pay the actual and reasonable expenses of travel of such judge, including, but not limited to, transportation costs, lodging, meals, registration fees, tuition fees and membership fees. (d) Such judges, officials and employees shall submit their claims for reimbursement of travel expenses to the Administrative Office of Courts on forms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Administrative Director of Courts.