TRAFFIC TICKET FEE BEGINS THURSDAY; FUNDS DRUG COURTS

Beginning Thursday, motorists facing traffic citations and citizens
convicted of other misdemeanors and felonies can expect to pay a few
dollars more to help fund state drug courts and mental health crisis centers.

In the 2004 legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill sponsored by
Dist. 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith to add a $20 assessment to traffic, implied
consent, litter, and game and fish law violations and to other misdemeanors
and felonies. The new law takes effect July 1, the start of the state's
fiscal year.

In most cases, the assessment revenue will be divided evenly between drug
courts and mental health crisis centers. Officials are expecting about $5
million each to be generated to meet operational needs of the two.

"That's going to be an adequate source of funding for us," said Fourteenth
District Circuit Court Judge Keith Starrett, who founded the state's first
drug court several years ago for Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties.

Starrett said there are now 10 drug courts in the state and a total of 18
are expected by the end of the year. The judge said the guidelines for how
the funding will be dispersed are still being developed at the state level.

"It's a work in progress," Starrett said.

Also, judges wanting to set up a drug court in their districts will have to
adhere to strict guidelines. Starrett said those are also in the making.

"It's a well thought-out scheme to get these up and running," Starrett said.

Starrett said he expects to receive at least $150,000 for his drug court.
The timing of the law was especially helpful for Starrett's program because
it is no longer eligible for federal grant help and was scheduled to run
out of money at the end of the year.

"The bottom line is we were without a funding source until this law was
passed," Starrett said.

Starrett said the drug court bill is a "godsend" for many people across the
state. When all 18 drug courts are up and going, the judge said that would
reduce the need for 1,500 beds at Parchman and thus save the state around
$30 million a year.

"Cindy Hyde-Smith deserves a lot of credit for getting this bill through,"
Starrett said.

Due to collection and processing issues, revenue from the new assessments
is not expected until September. Assessment revenue from circuit, chancery
and justice courts is settled to the state once a month, said David Fields,
Lincoln County administrator.

"We must have 20 assessments for various things," said Fields, who expected
to have a new list soon

This month's settlement, which represented collections in May, was $22,700,
Fields said. Of that, approximately $19,000 was generated through justice
court.

For crisis center operations, Department of Mental Health Bureau Chief
Roger McMurtry said the agency is anticipating its first payment in September.

"We'll start spending money before then," said McMurtry, adding that
borrowed funds will be used for staff acquisition and training.

McMurtry said five of six crisis centers have been completed and turned
over to the department, which is targeting mid-September for center
operation. The sixth center, in Grenada, is about 98 percent complete and
is expected to be finished by the end of July.

Brookhaven was also chosen as a site for a mental health crisis center.
However, its status is in doubt.

"The Brookhaven project is still on hold at this time," McMurtry said.

Bids for the project were opened several months ago, but were taken under
advisement. With the opening now more than 45 days ago, officials said the
project likely would have to be re-advertised if it goes forward.

Dist. 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett said he hoped chancery clerks and sheriffs
from southwest Mississippi counties could meet with Gov. Haley Barbour soon
to discuss the crisis center situation. He remained optimistic about the
Brookhaven center becoming a reality.

"It will be built," Barnett said.

The anticipated $5 million from the new legislation assessment was part of
about $13 million in funding approved for the crisis centers, McMurtry
said. Other revenue came from the tobacco trust fund and the budget
contingency fund.

McMurtry said the funding should allow the centers to operate at about half
capacity, which would be eight patients per facility. The centers will
serve as small hospitals to treat people in need of psychiatric help but
who cannot receive it because of limited space at other state facilities.

(c)The Daily Leader 2004