Sec. 201.207.  STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS;  PERSONNEL.  (a)  The office of court administration may contract for available state and federal funds from any source and may employ personnel needed to implement and administer this subchapter.  An associate judge and other personnel appointed under this subsection are state employees for all purposes, including accrual of leave time, insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and travel regulations.
(b)  The presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions, state agencies, and counties may contract for available federal funds from any source to reimburse costs and salaries associated with associate judges and personnel appointed under this section and may also use available state funds and public or private grants.
(c)  The presiding judges and the office of court administration in cooperation with other agencies shall take action necessary to maximize the amount of federal money available to fund the use of associate judges under this subchapter.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1302, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.