Director's duties; annual report

(a) Consistent with provisions of the dispute resolution act and the rules of the supreme court adopted pursuant to the dispute resolution act, and in consultation with the council, the director shall: (1) Make information on dispute resolution available throughout the state and encourage the development of new programs; (2) approve programs and individuals which meet requirements and guidelines for approval which are prescribed by the dispute resolution act or by rules of the supreme court adopted pursuant to the dispute resolution act; (3) develop and administer a uniform system of reporting and collecting statistical data from approved programs and individuals; (4) develop and administer a uniform system of evaluating approved programs and individuals for compliance with the requirements of the dispute resolution act and the rules of the supreme court adopted pursuant to the dispute resolution act; (5) prepare an annual budget for the implementation and administration of the dispute resolution act and disburse funds to approved programs and individuals; (6) develop guidelines for a sliding scale of fees that may be charged by approved programs and individuals; (7) develop and approve curricula and initiate training sessions for neutral persons and staff of registered programs, registered individuals and of courts, including continuing education programs; (8) establish and approve volunteer training and continuing education programs; (9) promote public awareness of the dispute resolution process; (10) apply for and receive funds from public and private sources for carrying out the purposes and objectives of the dispute resolution act; and (11) provide technical assistance to any program, individual and other entities, including courts, requesting the study and development of dispute resolution programs. (b) The director shall report annually to the supreme court, the governor and the legislature on the implementation of the dispute resolution act. The report shall include, but not be limited to, information on types of disputes being handled by registered programs and registered individuals, recommendations to address problems, recommendations for program development, statistics concerning numbers and resolutions of disputes, when available, and any other information available which is relevant to achieving the goals of the dispute resolution act.