Section 505. General functions of the Administrative Office

The Administrative Office shall have the power and its duties shall be:

(1) To review the operation and efficiency of the system and of all offices related to and serving the system and, when necessary, to report to the Supreme Court or the Judicial Council with respect thereto.

(2) To formulate and submit to the Supreme Court recommendations for the improvement of the system and offices related to and serving the system.

(3) To represent the system before the General Assembly and other legislative bodies with respect to matters affecting the system and offices related to and serving the system.

(4) To examine the administrative and business methods employed in the office of the prothonotaries and clerks of court and other offices within or related to and serving the system and make recommendations for necessary improvement.

(5) To collect and compile financial and other statistical data and other information on the business of the courts and the justices of the peace and on the work of all offices related to and serving the system, to publish periodic reports with respect thereto and to furnish to the Supreme Court such information as may be requested by it.

(6) To examine the state of the dockets and practices and procedures of the courts and of the district justices of the peace and make recommendations for the expedition of litigation.

(7) To prepare and submit to the Supreme Court for review and approval a tentative budget request for the system and to appear before the Secretary of the Budget and the General Assembly in support of the final budget request of the system as approved by the Supreme Court.

(8) To disburse and to approve or disapprove requests for permission to spend or encumber funds appropriated to the system within the limits established under Rule 504(a).

(9) To procure and to make available to the personnel of the system entitled thereto, accommodations, goods and services secured through funds appropriated to the system.

(10) To maintain central records relating to the qualifications, employment status, basis of compensation, and other personnel information of all personnel of the system compensated in whole or in part through funds appropriated to the system.

(11) To supervise all administrative matters relating to the offices of the prothonotaries and clerks of court and other system and related personnel engaged in clerical functions, including the institution of such uniform procedures, indexes and dockets as may be approved by the Supreme Court.

(12) To prepare educational and training materials for system and related personnel and to conduct educational and training sessions.

(13) To receive comments and complaints from the public relating to the system and offices relating to and serving the system.

(14) To prepare and publish an annual report on the work of the system and of the offices related to and serving the system and on the activities of the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

(15) To provide to personnel of the system legal services and, when appropriate, representation by legal counsel.

(16) To perform such additional duties as may be assigned by law or by the Supreme Court.

The provisions of this Rule 505 amended and effective Jan. 18, 1974, amended October 10, 1979, effective October 20, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 3509. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (21258) to (21259).