AR SB148

Establishes a new $125 court cost assessed for drug court convictions, drug court program participants, and participants in related intervention and diversion programs, with revenue deposited to the MAGNUM Drug Court Fund.

Allows drug courts to assess an additional fee up to $250 for persons entering drug court programs who are appointed attorneys, collected alongside the existing public defender user fee of $10-$400.

Restructures the MAGNUM Drug Court Fund to receive revenues from the new $125 court cost under § 16-98-308 and distributes funds to judicial districts based on drug court caseloads for operation and administration of drug courts and mental health crisis intervention programs.

Removes references to § 19-6-489 from the special revenue funds section and consolidates drug court funding provisions to eliminate the previous program user fee structure capped at $20 per month.

Requires the Division of Behavioral Health Services to promulgate rules regarding fund distribution, subject to review by the Joint Budget Committee or Legislative Council depending on legislative session status.