The bill amends existing laws regarding municipal ordinance violations, specifically addressing the collection and distribution of fines and costs by district courts. It introduces changes to the accounting records maintained by district court clerks, requiring them to keep three separate records for sums collected from various types of cases, including misdemeanors and violations of town or city ordinances. The bill also clarifies the distribution of collected sums, stating that after deducting fees for police and sheriff's offices, the district court must pay the collected amounts into the respective town or city treasury or county treasury, depending on the case classification.

Additionally, the bill allows prosecuting attorneys to enter into agreements with municipalities to prosecute violations of municipal ordinances. Under these agreements, municipalities are required to contribute to the operational expenses of the prosecuting attorney's office, with their contribution capped at 50% of the prorated sums collected by the district court. This change aims to enhance the enforcement of municipal ordinances while ensuring that the financial responsibilities are shared between municipalities and the prosecuting attorney's office.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1178 Original - 1-21-2025 01:52 PM: 16-17-707(a), 16-17-1203(a)
HB 1178: 16-17-707(a), 16-17-1203(a)