(a) The judges of the superior courts of this state shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the compensation provided by law, reimbursement of travel expenses incurred when such a judge attends any court in his judicial circuit other than the court in the county of the residence of the judge or when the judge is required to be in any county in his circuit other than the county of his residence in the discharge of any judicial duty or function, required by law, pertaining to the superior court of such county. Judges and senior judges of the superior courts shall also be entitled to receive reimbursement under this Code section of travel expenses incurred when any such judge is designated to preside in the place of an absent Justice of the Supreme Court or attends a meeting of a judicial administrative district, The Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia, the Judicial Council of Georgia, the Advisory Council for Probation, the Judicial Qualifications Commission, a sentence review panel, or any committee or subcommittee of any such body, or when any such judge attends a meeting with the personnel of any state department or other state agency when such meeting is held to carry out a public purpose; provided, however, that any expenses for which reimbursement is received under this subsection shall not be eligible for reimbursement under Code Section 15-6-32.

(b) A judge of a superior court holding court in a county outside of the judicial circuit in which he was elected or appointed to hold court shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the compensation provided by law, reimbursement for expenses incurred while holding court outside of his judicial circuit in the same amount and in the same manner as a judge of the superior court holding court in a county other than that of his residence.

(c) The expenses provided for in this Code section shall be paid for the following purposes and in the following manner:

(1) For transportation to and from a county outside of the residence of the judge, if the same is by privately owned motor vehicle, the judge shall receive and be paid a travel expense allowance for each mile traveled in the same amount as is paid and received by the officers, officials, and employees of the various departments, institutions, boards, bureaus, and agencies of the state;

(2) Actual cost of transportation shall be allowed to and from a county outside of the residence of the judge, if same is by public conveyance; and

(3) Actual cost of meals and lodging for self shall be allowed if incurred in a county outside of the residence of the judge.

(d) The several judges of the superior courts shall, once a month, submit a detailed and certified statement of the items of expense, as authorized by this Code section, to the state auditor; and the state auditor is directed to audit each account and approve same for payment, if found correct, and to transmit the total amount to the Department of Administrative Services for payment from the funds available for the operation of the superior courts of this state. Senior judges of the superior courts shall, once a month, submit a detailed and certified statement of the items of expense, as authorized by Code Sections 47-8-64 and 47-23-100, to the state auditor; and the state auditor is directed to audit each account and approve same for payment, if found correct, and to transmit the total amount to the Department of Administrative Services for payment from the funds available for the operation of the superior courts of this state.