Section 31. Powers and duties of town justices; requirements; restriction

1.  The town justice shall have such jurisdiction in criminal and  civil
  matters  and  in  special  proceedings,  as  is  now or may hereafter be
  conferred by law. Each such justice shall:
    (a) Keep or cause to be kept the records and dockets required  by  the
  uniform justice court act. No town justice shall receive or disburse any
  moneys  unless he shall furnish or receive a proper receipt therefor, or
  make a memorandum or record of such transaction, in such form and detail
  as the state comptroller shall prescribe.
    (b) At least annually and as often as  may  be  required,  submit  his
  dockets to the members of the town board for examination and audit.
    2.  No  town  justice  selected  for a term of office commencing on or
  after September first, nineteen hundred sixty-seven, except one who  has
  been  admitted to practice law in this state, shall assume the functions
  of his office unless he has filed in the office  of  the  town  clerk  a
  certificate  of  completion  of  a  course of training prescribed by the
  administrative board of  the  judicial  conference.  The  administrative
  board may issue a temporary certificate enabling a justice to assume the
  functions  of  his office pending completion of the earliest such course
  available thereafter. Such certificates shall be in a form, and  subject
  to terms and conditions, prescribed by the administrative board.
    3.  Notwithstanding  any  other  law,  actual  and  necessary expenses
  incurred by a justice or justice elect in attending a course of training
  required of him before he can assume the functions of his  office  shall
  be a charge against the town.
    4.  No  town  justice  selected  for a term of office commencing on or
  after July first, nineteen hundred  seventy-five,  shall  engage  in  or
  accept  any  employment  as  a  "police officer" or a "peace officer" as
  those terms are defined in the criminal procedure law.
    5. A person who has been convicted of a felony pursuant to the laws of
  this state or who has been convicted in  federal  court  or  in  another
  state  for  a  crime or offense that would constitute a felony under the
  laws of this state shall be permanently ineligible to be a candidate for
  town justice or to be appointed or continue to hold such office.