70374. (a) The Judicial Council shall annually recommend to the Governor and the Legislature the amount proposed to be spent for projects paid for with moneys in the State Court Facilities Construction Fund. The use of the appropriated moneys is subject to subdivision (l) of Section 70391.
(b) Acquisition and construction of court facilities shall be subject to the State Building Construction Act of 1955 (Part 10b (commencing with Section 15800) of Division 3 of Title 2) and the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2), except that (1) notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall serve as an implementing agency upon approval of the Department of Finance, and (2) the provisions of subdivision (e) shall prevail. Acquisition and construction of facilities are not subject to the provisions of the Public Contract Code, but shall be subject to facilities contracting policies and procedures adopted by the Judicial Council after consultation and review by the Department of Finance.
(c) Moneys in the State Court Facilities Construction Fund shall only be used for either of the following:
(1) The planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, renovation, replacement, leasing, or acquisition of court facilities, as defined by subdivision (d) of Section 70301.
(2) The rehabilitation of one or more existing court facilities in conjunction with the construction, acquisition, or financing of one or more new court facilities.
(d) The following provisions shall prevail over provisions of the State Building Construction Act of 1955 (Part 10b (commencing with Section 15800) of Division 3 of Title 2) in regard to buildings subject to this section.
(1) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall be responsible for the operation, including, but not limited to, the maintenance and repair, of all court facilities whose title is held by the state. The operation of buildings under this section shall be the responsibility of the Judicial Council.
(2) Notwithstanding Section 15808.1, the Judicial Council shall have the responsibility for determining whether a building under the act shall be located within or outside of an existing public transit corridor.
(3) The buildings under this section are subject to Section 15814.12 concerning cogeneration and alternative energy sources at the request of, or with the consent of, the Judicial Council. Any building acquired by the state pursuant to this section on or before July 1, 2007, is not subject to subdivision (b) of Section 15814.12 concerning the acquisition of cogeneration or alternative energy equipment if the building, when acquired, already had cogeneration or alternative energy equipment. Section 15814.17 only applies to buildings to which the Judicial Council has given its consent under subdivision (a) of Section 15814.12.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 79, Sec. 23. (AB 143) Effective July 16, 2021.)