AZ SB1579

Amends Section 11-588 of Arizona Revised Statutes regarding the state aid to indigent defense fund.

Clarifies that the sole purpose of the fund is to provide state aid to county public defenders, legal defenders, and contract indigent defense counsel for processing criminal cases.

Changes the fund distribution process from "allocate" to "distribute" monies to each county through the Arizona criminal justice commission based on Section 41-2409, subsection C.

Requires that all monies from the fund be used to supplement, not supplant, county funding levels for criminal case processing as provided in fiscal year 1997-1998.

Specifies that monies in the fund are exempt from lapsing provisions under Section 35-190, with state general fund appropriations spendable without further legislative approval.