Section 68645.7 - Estimate of funding need(a) On or before January 10 of each year, the Department of Finance, in consultation with the Judicial Council, shall estimate the level of funding needed to backfill the judicial branch for the amount reduced based upon the ability-to-pay determinations granted to defendants pursuant to this article. The estimate shall be developed by the Department of Finance, in conjunction with the Judicial Council, and based on the data provided to the Judicial Council by the trial courts as required in subdivision (b). The Department of Finance shall distribute the funds to the judicial branch appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act or any other act approved by the Legislature. The department shall publish its estimate and transmit it to the Legislature at the time of the submission of the Governor's Budget pursuant to Section 12 of Article IV of the California Constitution.(b) The Judicial Council shall collect data from the trial courts necessary to request funding from the Department of Finance for the purposes of subdivision (a). Only trial courts that provide data in accordance with the method required by the Judicial Council are eligible for this funding.Added by Stats 2021 ch 79 (AB 143),s 8, eff. 7/16/2021.