House Bill 643 Summary

• Reduces city obligations to provide magistrate court facilities by 20% annually from fiscal year 2019 through fiscal year 2023, at which point cities are fully relieved of this obligation; prohibits new facility orders against cities.

• Redirects liquor account distributions beginning fiscal year 2019, decreasing percentages to cities (from 60% to 49% by 2023) and counties (from 40% to 36% by 2023) while appropriating 3-15% to counties for magistrate court funding through the district court fund.

• Establishes new fee distribution for magistrate court facilities under Section 31-3201A, dedicating portions of civil case filing fees, felony/misdemeanor fees, and infraction fees to magistrate division support when facilities are provided by counties.

• Defines "city law enforcement officer" to include individuals employed directly by a city or contracted through another jurisdiction for law enforcement purposes.

• Repeals Section 1-2218 (city facilities obligations) effective July 1, 2023, with Section 1 effective immediately upon passage and approval.