1. The chief administrator of the courts, on behalf of the chief judge, shall supervise the administration and operation of the unified court system. In the exercise of such responsibility, the chief administrator shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him by the chief judge and, in addition, the following functions, powers and duties which shall be exercised as the chief judge may provide and in accordance with such standards and administrative policies as may be promulgated pursuant to section twenty-eight of article six of the constitution:
- (a) Prepare the itemized estimates of the annual financial needs of the unified court system, in accordance with section one of article seven of the constitution. Such itemized estimates, approved by the court of appeals and certified by the chief judge, shall be transmitted to the governor not later than the first day of December in each year for inclusion in the budget without revision. The chief administrator shall forthwith transmit copies of such itemized estimates to the chairmen of the senate finance and judiciary committees and the assembly ways and means and judiciary committees.
- (b) Establish an administrative office for the courts and appoint and remove such deputies, assistants, counsel and employees as he may deem necessary and fix their salaries within the appropriation made available therefor.
- (c) Establish the hours, terms and parts of court, assign judges and justices to them, and make necessary rules therefor.
- (d) Designate deputy chief administrators and administrative judges for any or all of the courts of the unified court system, except the appellate divisions and the court of appeals.
- (e) Act as "chief executive officer" and exercise the functions, powers and duties of a "public employer" under the provisions of article fourteen of the civil service law.
- (f) Make recommendations to the legislature and the governor for laws and programs to improve the administration of justice and the operation of the unified court system; and, with respect to any bill proposing law which is likely to have a substantial and direct effect upon the unified court system, prepare a judicial impact statement upon written request of the chairman of the standing committee of the senate or assembly to which the bill has been referred or upon his own initiative. The statement shall be submitted as soon as practicable to the chairman of the appropriate committee and contain, to the extent feasible and relevant, the chief administrator's projections of the impact of the proposed law on the functioning of the courts and related agencies of the unified court system, including: (i) administration; (ii) caseload; (iii) personnel; (iv) procedure; (v) revenues; (vi) expenses; (vii) physical facilities; and (viii) such additional considerations as may be requested by the committee chairman, or included by the chief administrator.
- (g) Receive and consider proposed amendments to the civil practice law and rules and the criminal procedure law, and conduct studies and recommend changes therein.
- (h) Hold hearings and conduct investigations. The chief administrator may issue a subpoena requiring a person to attend before him and be examined under oath with reference to any aspect of the unified court system, and require the production of books or papers with reference thereto.
- (i) Adopt, amend and rescind all rules and orders necessary to execute the functions of his office.
- (j) Collect, compile and publish statistics and other data with respect to the unified court system and submit annually, on or before the fifteenth day of March, to the legislature and the governor a report of his activities and the state of the unified court system during the preceding year.
- (k) Require all personnel of the unified court system, county clerks and law enforcement officers to furnish any information and statistical data as will enable him to execute the functions of his office.
- (l) Request and receive from any court or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof such assistance, information and data as will enable him to execute the functions of his office.
- (m) Undertake research, studies and analyses of the administration and operation of the unified court system including, but not limited to, the organization, budget, jurisdiction, procedure, and administrative, clerical, fiscal and personnel practices thereof.
- (n) Accept as agent of the state any grant or gift for the purpose of executing the functions of his or her office; provided, however, where a grant or gift is of money, the chief administrator shall dispose of same as provided in section eleven of the state finance law.
- (o) Contract for goods and services on behalf of the unified court system.
- (p) Promote cooperation and coordination between the unified court system and other agencies of the state or its political subdivisions.
- (q) Create advisory committees to assist him in the execution of the functions of his office.
- (r) Establish educational programs, seminars and institutes for the judicial and nonjudicial personnel of the unified court system.
- (s) Delegate to any deputy, assistant, court or administrative judge, administrative functions, powers and duties possessed by him.
- (t) Do all other things necessary and convenient to carry out his functions, powers and duties.
- (u) Review and approve plans, specifications, designs and cost estimates for the design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, furnishing or equipping of court facilities pursuant to a capital plan approved in accordance with section sixteen hundred eighty-c of the public authorities law; provided, however, that in the event that such plans, specifications, designs or cost estimates effect a substantial change in an approved capital plan, such plans, specifications, designs or cost estimates must be approved by the court facilities capital review board in accordance with section sixteen hundred eighty-c of the public authorities law.
- (v) Insure that appropriate public notice is given of the provisions of section 215.22 of the penal law.