Section 69926.

(a) This section applies to the superior court and the sheriff in those counties in which the sheriff's department provides court security services.

(b) The sheriff, with the approval and authorization of the board of supervisors, shall, on behalf of the county, enter into an annual or multiyear memorandum of understanding with the superior court specifying an agreed-upon level of court security services and any other agreed-upon governing or operating procedures. The memorandum of understanding and the court security plan may be included in a single document.

(c) If the superior court and the sheriff are unwilling or unable to enter into an agreement pursuant to this section at least 30 days before the expiration date of an existing memorandum of understanding, or if there is a dispute regarding the administration or level of services and equipment being provided under this article, the superior court, sheriff, and county shall meet and confer. The superior court shall designate a representative with authority to resolve the dispute, who shall meet and confer with representatives designated by the sheriff and county who have the authority to negotiate a resolution and recommend the resolution to the board of supervisors. The meeting shall occur within five business days of any party requesting that meeting.

(d) If the meeting described in subdivision (c) does not result in a recommended resolution to the dispute, the presiding judge of the court, the sheriff, or the chair of the board of supervisors may request the assistance of the Administrative Director of the Courts, the President of the California State Sheriffs' Association, and the President of the California State Association of Counties. Within 10 business days of the request, the representatives of the superior court, the sheriff, and the county involved in the dispute shall meet to discuss the dispute with the Administrative Office of the Courts, the California State Sheriffs' Association, and the California State Association of Counties. The representatives of the superior court, the sheriff, and the county attending the meeting shall have the authority to negotiate a resolution on behalf of their respective principals. Any recommended resolution shall be approved by the board of supervisors, consistent with subdivision (b).

(e) The Judicial Council shall, by rule of court, establish a process that, notwithstanding any other law, expeditiously and finally resolves disputes that are not settled in the meeting process described in subdivision (d). The rule of court shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide a process for parties to submit disputes.

(2) Provide for the assignment of a justice who is not from the court of appeal district in which the county, the superior court, and the sheriff are located.

(3) Provide an expedited process for hearing these matters in a venue convenient to the parties and assigned justice.

(4) Provide that the justice shall hear the petition and issue a decision on an expedited basis.

(5) Provide a process for an appeal of the decision issued under paragraph (4). The appeal shall be heard in a court of appeal district other than the one in which the county, the superior court, and the sheriff are located.

(f) The terms of a memorandum of understanding shall remain in effect, to the extent consistent with this article, and the sheriff shall continue to provide court security as required by this article, until the parties enter into a new memorandum of understanding.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 41, Sec. 35. Effective June 27, 2012.)