CCS/HCS/SB 735 - This act modifies provisions relating to the Court Automation Fund, the Basic Civil Legal Services Fund, and public defenders. COURT AUTOMATION FUND - 476.055
The act provides that any unexpended balance remaining in the Statewide Court Automation Fund shall be transferred to general revenue on September 1, 2023, rather than September 1, 2018, as provided in current law.
The act also adds the executive director of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services and the director of the State Public Defender System as members of the Court Automation Committee. The court fee collected for the court automation fund shall expire on September 1, 2023, rather than September 1, 2018, and the Court Automation Committee must complete its duties by September 1, 2025, rather than September 1, 2020.
These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/HB 2367 (2016) and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 663 (2016).
BASIC CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND - 477.650
The act extends the expiration date for provisions regarding funding for the legal representation of low-income persons from December 31, 2018, to December 31, 2025.
These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/HB 2367 (2016) and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 663 (2016).
PUBLIC DEFENDERS - 600.042, 600.090, & 600.101
Under current law, the director of the State Public Defender System must implement a plan to establish district offices that align with judicial circuit boundaries by December 31, 2018. This act extends the date of implementation to December 31, 2021.
Current law allows the director of the Missouri State Public Defender System to delegate the legal representation of any person to any licensed attorney. This act specifies that the director can delegate the legal representation of people who are eligible for representation by the Public Defender System.
In addition, current law allows unexpended funds of up to $150,000 to remain in the Legal Defense and Defender Fund at the end of the fiscal year. This act removes the cap, so all unexpended money remains in the fund.
These provisions are identical to provisions of SB 705 (2016), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 663 (2016), and SCS/SB 91 (2015).
This act repeals a provision requiring the Commission on Judicial Resources to report to certain Senate and House committees regarding office space for public defenders.
This provision is identical to HCS/SS/SCS/SB 663 (2016) and a provision of SCS/SB 91 (2015).
MEGHAN LUECKE