HCS/SS/SCS/SB 144 - This act increases the number of circuit judges in the 11th judicial circuit (St. Charles County) and 23rd judicial circuit (Jefferson County) from four to six beginning on January 1, 2007. The two new circuit judges shall be elected in November 2006 for a full six-year term. Further, the act provides that beginning on January 1, 2007, the current drug court commissioner and family court commissioner positions in such circuits shall become associate circuit judge positions, and may retain the duties of the drug court and family court. Such new associate circuit judges shall be elected in November 2006 for a full four-year term. The act authorizes an additional associate circuit judge in Cass County beginning on January 1, 2006. The act creates a state-funded family court commissioner position in the 29th judicial circuit and a state-funded drug court commissioner position in the 42nd judicial circuit. Any drug court commissioner appointed in the 23rd judicial circuit will be a state-funded position. Provisions of this act are identical to HCS/SCS/SBs 420 and 344 (2005). JIM ERTLE