17-12-9. Continuing legal education for public defenders and staff.

The council shall be authorized to conduct or approve for credit or reimbursement, or both, basic and continuing legal education courses or other appropriate training programs for the circuit public defenders or their staff members. The council, in accordance with such policies as it shall adopt, shall be authorized to provide reimbursement, in whole or in part, for the actual expenses incurred by any circuit public defender or their staff members in attending any approved course or training program from funds as may be appropriated or otherwise made available to the council. The circuit public defenders or their staff members shall be authorized to receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending approved courses or training programs. The council shall adopt policies governing the approval of courses and training programs for credit or reimbursement as may be necessary to administer this Code section properly.