SB 957 - This act provides that in the twenty-fourth judicial circuit, a majority of the court en banc may appoint a person to act as a drug court commissioner. Such person shall possess the same qualifications as an associate circuit judge, and shall receive the same compensation and retirement as associate circuit judges, payable from the same source as those benefits are paid to associate judges. Orders, judgments, or decrees of the commissioner shall be rejected or confirmed by order of record by a circuit judge, and if confirmed, such orders, judgments, or decrees shall have the same effect as if made by the judge on the date of confirmation. The drug court commissioner shall not engage in the private practice of law. The circuit court may additionally appoint one person to act as drug court administrator, whose compensation and benefits shall be payable in the same manner and from the same source as other circuit court personnel, and shall serve for a term of four years.
The drug court commissioner or administrator may be removed from office during term by a majority of the circuit and associate circuit judges en banc upon proof that he or she has engaged in certain crimes or misconduct.
This act has an emergency clause.
This act is identical to HB 1484 (2006).
ALEXA PEARSON