Amends existing law to provide that a certain portion of surcharge fees shall be deposited in the state General Fund.

This proposed legislation changes the distribution of funds collected from the surcharge fee that is assessed under I.C. § 31-3201H. This statute was enacted in 2010 to address the shortfall in revenues during the economic recession and to maintain the operation of court services and programs. The fee paid by offenders is $100 for each felony, $50 for each misdemeanor, and $10 for each infraction. Of the funds collected, 80% goes to the Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Family Court Services Fund (the Drug Court Fund), and 20% to the Court Technology Fund. This proposed legislation would redirect to the state general fund the 80% that is currently going to the Drug Court Fund. This would be part of a plan, yet to be approved by the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, to appropriate additional general fund moneys to fund non-problem solving court obligations that are now being paid out of the Drug Court Fund. This would restore a more sensible allocation and use of general fund moneys and Drug Court Fund moneys to meet court obligations and maintain the operation of vital court services and programs.