§12-17-225.4. Collection fee.

After a matter has been transferred to a district attorney under Section 12-17-225.2, a court shall assess a collection fee of 30 percent of the funds due which shall be added to the amount of funds due. Any amount collected pursuant to this division shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Seventy-five percent of the collection fee shall be distributed to the county district attorney's fund to be expended for lawful purposes for the operation of the office of the district attorney. Funds provided to the district attorney by this division shall not reduce the amount payable to the district attorney under any local act or general act or reduce or affect the amounts of funding allocated by law to the budget of the district attorney. The funds shall be audited as all other state funds are audited.

(2) Twenty-five percent of the collection fee shall be distributed to the circuit clerk's fund which shall be kept and maintained by the circuit clerk in a separate account to be used for the operation of the office of the clerk to include, but not be limited to, equipment purchases, education, and other office related expenses including personnel. Funds retained by the circuit clerk shall not reduce the amount payable to the circuit clerk under any local act or general act or reduce or affect the amounts of funding allocated by the Administrative Office of Courts to the budget of the circuit clerk. The funds shall be audited as all other state funds are audited.

The Legislature may, by local law, adjust the distribution in this section.

The remainder of the fees, fines, penalties, charges, court costs, and bail bond forfeitures after the deduction for collection shall be disbursed as provided by law on a monthly basis.

(3) This division shall not affect the right of the office of the district attorney to proceed with the prosecution of any violation as currently provided by law.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-725, p. 1548, §5.)