Municipal judge, training programs; certification; examinations; continuing education requirement; duties of supreme court

(a) Any person who holds the position of municipal judge in any city in this state on January 1, 1990, and any person who thereafter becomes a municipal judge in any city in this state who has not been admitted to practice law in Kansas, as required by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto, shall be permitted to temporarily commence the duties of office, conditioned that such judge becomes certified as being qualified to hold such office as provided in this section. The supreme court shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for a training program and an examination to ensure that each such municipal judge possesses the minimum skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the duties of such office. Such examination and training shall be administered without charge and such examination shall be given at least once each six months at a time and place designated by the supreme court. If a municipal judge fails to successfully complete such examination within 18 months after the date such judge takes office, such judge shall forfeit such judge's office and the municipal judge position previously held by such judge shall be vacant at the expiration of such eighteen-month period. A municipal judge who fails to successfully complete any examination may take such examination again at the next time it is offered prior to the expiration of such eighteen-month period. Any municipal judge who fails to successfully complete the examination within the prescribed time shall be ineligible to be a municipal judge, unless such person subsequently meets all the qualifications prescribed by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto. (b) Any person who successfully completes the examination administered under this section or who meets all of the qualifications prescribed by K.S.A. 12-4105, and amendments thereto, shall be certified by the supreme court as being qualified to hold such office. In order to continue to hold such office, such judge must attend at least 10 hours of continuing judicial education as approved by the supreme court in each calendar year. A continuing judicial education program offering at least 10 hours of credit shall be provided at least once each year at no expense to either the municipal judge or the municipality. (c) The supreme court shall administer the training, testing and continuing judicial education provided for in this section, which shall be funded by the judicial branch education fund as provided for in K.S.A. 20-1a11 or may contract with another person or organization for that service.