1. (a) General rule.— Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the board shall prescribe and approve the subject matter and the examination for the course of training and instruction required by this subchapter. The staff authorized by Subchapter D of Chapter 21 (relating to minor judiciary education board) shall, subject to the direction of the board, administer the course of training and instruction and conduct the examination. The staff shall conduct the course of training and examination at such times, at such places and in such manner as the regulations of the board may prescribe. The board shall make the course of training and instruction available at such times so as to insure that any magisterial district judge, arraignment court magistrate or judge elected or appointed may qualify to assume office as soon as possible.

2. (b) Content of course.— The course of training and instruction shall not exceed four weeks in duration and shall consist of a minimum of 40 hours of class instruction in civil and criminal law, including evidence and procedure, summary proceedings, motor vehicles and courses in judicial ethics, in the case of all such officials except arraignment court magistrates, in which case the course of training shall consist of a minimum of 30 hours of class instruction in criminal law, search and seizure, arrest and bail practices and procedures, and except judges of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia, in which case the course of training shall consist of a minimum of 20 hours of class instruction in summary proceedings and laws relating to motor vehicles.

   References in Text. The Traffic Court of Philadelphia, referred to in subsec. (b), was abolished by Joint Resolution No.2 of 2016.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; July 20, 1979, P.L.157, No.52, eff. 60 days; Oct. 12, 1984, P.L.959, No.187, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days; Oct. 9, 2008, P.L.1352, No.98, eff. 60 days)

2008 Amendment. Section 10 of Act 98 provided that nothing in Act 98 shall be construed or deemed to provide arraignment court magistrates with retirement benefits or rights different from those available to bail commissioners immediately prior to the effective date of Act 98.

2004 Amendment. See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.