HB589 Summary

• Proposes a constitutional amendment for Lamar County establishing a drug enforcement fee assessed in all juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in county courts.

• Sets drug enforcement fee amounts at $10 for non-drug cases, $60 for misdemeanor drug cases, and $85 for felony drug cases.

• Distributes collected fees with $3 per case retained by the court clerk as administrative fee and remainder deposited to the Lamar County Drug Enforcement Fund established by the district attorney for the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit.

• Authorizes use of fund revenues to support the drug task force serving the circuit, including payment of task force expenses, salaries, and matching funds for grants.

• Requires a referendum election on the proposed amendment to be held on the primary election date in June following the act's effective date, with ballot language describing the substance of the constitutional amendment.