Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the following procedures shall apply for business-related travel expenses of judges and employees of the trial courts:
(a)
The Administrative Director of the Courts shall annually recommend policies and schedules for reimbursement of travel expenses and procedures for processing these requests, which shall be approved by the Judicial Council and shall be followed by the trial courts.
(b)
Each court shall develop a system for presentation and approval of requests that shall ensure that requests are reviewed in an impartial and appropriate manner and that conforms to the policies, schedules, and procedures approved by the Judicial Council.
(c)
The cost of the approved requests shall be paid from that court’s Trial Court Operations Fund.