Sec. 45a-8a. Regional Children's Probate Courts.

(b) The Probate Court Administrator may establish seven Regional Children's Probate Courts in regions designated by the Probate Court Administrator. In establishing such courts, the Probate Court Administrator shall consult with the probate judges of the districts located in each designated region, each of whom may participate on a voluntary basis.

(c) The Probate Court Administrator may establish a Regional Children's Probate Court under this section in (1) any existing Probate Court facility within a district located in a region, or (2) a separate facility located in a region as may be designated by the Probate Court Administrator. Each Regional Children's Probate Court shall be established and operated with the advice of the participating probate judges of such districts and the administrative judge appointed under subsection (f) of this section. Such participating probate judges and administrative judge shall serve as the judges of the Regional Children's Probate Court, except as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this section. Such judges shall hear and determine all children's matters as may come before them on a docket separate from other probate matters.

(d) (1) For the purposes of this section, the Probate Court Administrator may, subject to the provisions of section 45a-84 , expend from the Probate Court Administration Fund established under section 45a-82 such amounts as the Probate Court Administrator may deem reasonable and necessary for the establishment, improvement and maintenance of court facilities located in each such designated region and for the operation of each Regional Children's Probate Court.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve any town of its obligation to provide and maintain court facilities pursuant to section 45a-8 .

(e) The Probate Court Administrator may, subject to the provisions of section 45a-84 , expend moneys from the Probate Court Administration Fund to reimburse participating towns or cities for any costs of leasing office space for a Regional Children's Probate Court, and any necessary improvements thereto, and for expenses under subsection (f) of this section.

(f) (1) The Probate Court Administrator, with the advice of the participating probate judges of the districts located in the designated region, shall appoint an administrative judge for each Regional Children's Probate Court. The administrative judge shall be a probate judge at the time of such appointment. If the administrative judge ceases to serve as a probate judge after such appointment, the administrative judge may continue to serve as administrative judge at the pleasure of the Probate Court Administrator, but shall not have the powers granted to an elected probate judge and shall not hear and determine children's matters before such Regional Children's Probate Court. Subject to the approval of the Chief Court Administrator, the Probate Court Administrator shall fix the compensation of the administrative judge and such compensation shall be paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund. Such compensation, together with the administrative judge's compensation as a probate judge of the district to which he or she was elected, shall not exceed the compensation provided for a judge of probate under subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 45a-95a . The administrative judge shall have such benefits as may inure to him or her as a probate judge and shall receive no additional benefits, except for compensation provided under this section and retirement benefits calculated in accordance with sections 45a-34 to 45a-54 , inclusive.

exceed the compensation provided for a judge of probate under subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 45a-95a . The administrative judge shall have such benefits as may inure to him or her as a probate judge and shall receive no additional benefits, except for compensation provided under this section and retirement benefits calculated in accordance with sections 45a-34 to 45a-54 , inclusive.

(2) Each administrative judge shall be responsible for the management of cases, coordination of social services, staff, financial management and record keeping for the Regional Children's Probate Court for which the administrative judge is appointed. The administrative judge may, with the approval of the Probate Court Administrator, purchase furniture, office supplies, computers and other equipment and contract for services that the administrative judge may deem necessary or advisable for the expeditious conduct of the business of the Regional Children's Probate Court.

(g) Each administrative judge for a Regional Children's Probate Court may, if authorized by the Probate Court Budget Committee under section 45a-85 , employ such persons as may be required for the efficient operation of the Regional Children's Probate Court. Such employees shall be employees of the Regional Children's Probate Court and shall be entitled to the benefits of Probate Court employees under this chapter. Such employees shall not be deemed to be state employees.

(h) Any Probate Court within a region designated under subsection (b) of this section may transfer children's matters to the Regional Children's Probate Court for such region. Any Regional Children's Probate Court may accept transfers and referrals of children's matters from Probate Courts within its region.

(i) Each Regional Children's Probate Court shall be considered a Probate Court for the purposes of this chapter.

(j) The Probate Court Administrator shall establish policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this section.