(a) The authority shall propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to develop comprehensive, uniform guidelines for use by the authority in evaluating any request by a county for funding assistance for the modification of an existing courthouse facility or the construction of a new county courthouse facility.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(b) The guidelines shall include the following factors:

(1) The degree of increased security of records kept by the offices of the county, circuit and magistrate court clerks in the county;

(2) The degree of increased safety for personnel whose offices are contained in the existing court facility or will be contained in the proposed court facility;

(3) The degree to which the proposal of modification or construction can correct deficiencies in compliance with building codes and with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.;

(4) The degree of increased efficiency and modernization in the preservation of records kept by the offices of the county officers, circuit clerks and magistrate court clerks in the county;

(5) The increased efficiency and modernization of the storage of records kept by the offices of the county officers, circuit clerks and magistrate court clerks in the county;

(6) The availability of alternative sources of funding which could finance all or a part of the modification or construction of a courthouse facility;

(7) The need for the assistance of the authority to finance the modification or construction of a courthouse facility or attract other sources of funding;

(8) The applicant county's ability to operate and maintain the courthouse facility if the modification or construction is granted assistance by the authority;

(9) The degree to which the modification or construction of a courthouse facility achieves other state or regional planning goals;

(10) The estimated date upon which the modification or construction of a courthouse facility could commence if funding were available and the estimated completion date of the modification or construction; and

(11) Other considerations the authority considers necessary or appropriate to accomplish its duties as defined in this article.

(c) The authority shall create an application form which shall be used by all counties requesting funding assistance from the authority.

(d) The application shall require the county applicant to set forth the following information:

(1) The type and proposed location of the proposed modification or construction of a courthouse facility;

(2) The estimated total cost of the proposed modification or construction of a courthouse facility;

(3) The amount of funding assistance required and the specific uses of the funding;

(4) Other sources of funding available or potentially available for the modification or construction;

(5) Information demonstrating the need for the modification or construction and that the proposed funding of the modification or construction is the most economically feasible to the completion of the modification or construction; and

(6) Any other information the authority considers necessary to enable it to recommend the type of financing, in terms of the kind, amount and source of funding, which the applicant county should pursue and which the authority should consider an appropriate investment of public funds.