Ark. House Passes Bill For Trial Court Assistants

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  The Arkansas House has approved a proposal to create new court charges to resolve a funding shortfall for the state's trial court assistants. 

Lawmakers voted 86-4 on Tuesday to pass the measure, with two lawmakers voting present.

The bill would impose a new $25 fine for violating the mandatory seat belt law or failing to present proof of insurance during a traffic stop. It would also raise money by charging a $50 fee to expunge misdemeanor charges and tightening some loopholes in the court fee structure.

Supporters said the new charges would provide a long-term funding solution to a recurring shortfall in the fund that pays the salaries of the state's 125 trial court assistants.

That fund has decreased over the past several years requiring a series of stop-gap measures.