Section 70371 - Fund established(a) There is hereby established the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, the proceeds of which shall be subject to the provisions of this article. Improvement of the court facilities and the construction funds generated by this article are intended to further reasonable access to the courts and judicial process throughout the state for all parties.(b) The State Court Facilities Construction Fund is the successor fund of the Immediate and Critical Needs Account, which is hereby abolished. All assets and revenues of the Immediate and Critical Needs Account shall be transferred to and become a part of the State Court Facilities Construction Fund. Outstanding liabilities, encumbrances, and legally required expenditures from the Immediate and Critical Needs Account shall be the obligation of the State Court Facilities Construction Fund. Any reference in state law, bond documents, leases, or other agreements to the Immediate and Critical Needs Account shall be construed to refer to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund.(c) Any funds in the Immediate and Critical Needs Account that are unencumbered at the end of the 2020-2021 fiscal year shall be reappropriated to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund for the following fiscal year.(d) Moneys deposited in the State Court Facilities Construction Fund as the successor fund to the Immediate and Critical Needs Account shall be disbursed for purposes previously appropriated from the Immediate and Critical Needs Account, which may include:(1) The planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, renovation, replacement, or acquisition of court facilities.(2) Payment or repayment for moneys appropriated for lease of court facilities pursuant to the issuance of lease-revenue bonds.(3) Payment for lease or rental of court facilities or payment of service contracts, including those made for facilities in which one or more private sector participants or counties undertake some of the risks associated with the financing, design, construction, or operation of the facility.(4) For trial court operations, as defined in Section 77003.Amended by Stats 2021 ch 79 (AB 143),s 17, eff. 7/16/2021.Added by Stats 2002 ch 1082 (SB 1732),s 4, eff. 1/1/2003.