HB359 Summary

• Imposes an additional $10 court cost on each criminal case (including traffic cases) filed in Baldwin County circuit court and district court, excluding juvenile and family court cases.

• Court clerk collects the additional costs and pays them to the Baldwin County Commission, which creates the Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund.

• Presiding circuit judge manages the fund in consultation with the mental health diversionary program judge and district attorney.

• Fund proceeds support creation, implementation, and continuing administration of a mental health diversionary program known as the "mental health court."

• $10 fees cannot be waived unless all other associated fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges are also waived.