Section 490-I:5 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Eligibility for ReimbursementsI. For the purpose of providing reimbursements and subject to available state appropriations, counties and districts shall be eligible for an annual reimbursement of up to $5,000 per case. Counties shall be reimbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. Reimbursements shall be prorated based on the amount of appropriation available. Any state veterans court program funds that are not expended by the end of the fiscal year shall lapse to the general fund.II. To be eligible for reimbursement, a county operating a veterans court shall receive a recommendation for approval from the coordinator's office. Reimbursement for all cases shall be paid annually at the end of each fiscal year by the administrative office of the courts following receipt of recommendations by the coordinator and final approval of the chief justice of the supreme court or designee.III. A county shall make a good faith effort to apply for federal funding to provide as match funds to supplement, but not supplant, state funds, as and where required as a condition of those funds. A county need only apply once.IV. A county seeking to implement a veterans court may obtain a state reimbursement of up to $5,000 per case for the costs associated with veterans court establishment, administration, and operation after satisfying the conditions in paragraph III.V. To obtain reimbursement from the state, a county shall: (a) Submit a budget for the total cost of the program to the coordinator for review;(b) Obtain draft policies and procedures from the coordinator, including a participant handbook or program outline and implementation plan, which the county may amend and return to the coordinator for consideration and approval;(c) Obtain and complete veterans court or veteran offender program training as approved by the coordinator; and(d) Establish that the veterans court is cost effective.(e) Based on the information provided in subparagraphs (a)-(d), the office shall recommend court programming for final approval of the chief justice of the supreme court.VI. The judicial branch administrative office of the courts is authorized to expend from appropriated sums the amounts necessary to fund reimbursements approved by the chief justice of the supreme court or designee.Added by 2024, 371:1, eff. 7/1/2025.