It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 8-15 of the General Laws entitled "Court Administration" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

8-15-3.1. Chief Justice -- Power to Assign Judges. -- The Chief Justice of the supreme court shall have the power to assign any magistrate of the superior court, family court, and/or district court to any court of the unified judicial system with the consent of the presiding justice and/or chief judge of the relevant courts in the same manner as a judge of the district court may be assigned pursuant to chapter 15 of this title. When a magistrate is so assigned, he or she shall be vested, authorized, and empowered with all the powers belonging to the justices and/or magistrates of the court to which he or she is specially assigned.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.