(a)(1) In Calhoun County, in any case in which court costs are assessed in a municipal court in the county, there shall be assessed and collected, in the same manner as other costs and charges are collected, an additional court cost in the amount of five dollars ($5) per case which shall be used for the operation, maintenance, upgrade, and support of computer or technology systems at the Calhoun County Courthouse and for the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund.
(2) The Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund shall be established for the deposit of the additional court costs collected in municipal court cases pursuant to this section. The fund shall be maintained in an interest-bearing account in a bank within Calhoun County and shall be under the supervision of the Calhoun County Justice Information System. Funds collected shall be forwarded monthly by the clerks of the municipal courts to the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund.
(3) Funds deposited in the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund may be expended for the operation, maintenance, support, expansion, and upgrade of the courthouse information system and information systems of other agencies related to the administration of criminal justice in Calhoun County as determined by the Calhoun County Justice Network Board.
(4) The Calhoun County Justice Network Board shall oversee the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund and shall authorize the expenditure of any funds collected and deposited into the fund. The board shall consist of the circuit court clerk, the presiding family court judge, the presiding circuit court judge, the district attorney, the sheriff, a chief of police as selected by the chiefs of police in the county acting together, the Superintendent of the Calhoun County Board of Education, the Director of Coosa Valley Youth Services, and the Chair of the Calhoun County Commission.
(5) The Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund may seek and receive funds, equipment, or other assets from any lawful source, including, but not limited to, grants or donations. The Calhoun County Justice Network Board may transfer or dispose of any property purchased from the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund to agencies related to the administration of justice in Calhoun County.
(6) All actions of and expenditures from the Calhoun County Justice Technology Fund shall be authorized by a majority vote by the board. The board shall maintain a record of the minutes of the meetings to include monthly financial statements and reports. A copy of each monthly financial statement and report shall, in a timely manner after it is prepared, be sent to the Calhoun County Commission. The board shall have at least one meeting per calendar quarter, and more often if determined by the board. Meetings shall be called by the presiding circuit court judge or by a letter signed by at least four of the members of the board. The time and location of the meetings shall be announced to the members no less than seven days prior to the meeting date, except in emergency circumstances.
(b)(1) The Calhoun County Commission is authorized to fix, regulate, and alter booking fees, and from time to time to fix, regulate, and alter additional costs and charges in the circuit, district, juvenile, and probate courts in Calhoun County, other than municipal courts, in all cases. When collected by the clerks or other officials of the courts, as designated by law, the additional costs, charges, and booking fees, as set by the Calhoun County Commission, collected in each case shall be remitted monthly to the Calhoun County Commission.
(2) The funds from the additional costs, charges, and booking fees, as set by the Calhoun County Commission pursuant to this subsection, shall be expended as determined by the Calhoun County Commission for security at the Calhoun County Courthouse; for the maintenance and upkeep of the Calhoun County Courthouse; for the operation, maintenance, support, expansion, and upgrade of the computer or technology systems and information systems at the Calhoun County Courthouse; for information systems of agencies related to the administration of the criminal justice system in Calhoun County; for information systems of agencies related to the administration of the civil justice system in Calhoun County; for the maintenance, upkeep, and staffing of the Calhoun County Jail; for medical treatment for Calhoun County Jail inmates; for Calhoun County juvenile detention purposes; for law enforcement purposes; and for other similar purposes related to the criminal and civil justice systems in Calhoun County.
(c) The costs, charges, and fees provided for in, and fixed, regulated, or altered pursuant to, this section shall be assessed and collected in the same manner as other costs, charges, and fees are collected and shall not be waived in any case unless all costs, charges, and fees in the case are waived.
Last modified: May 3, 2021