But Nixon said the new ballot measure would split drug money 50-50 between law enforcement and education, instead of sending all the money to schools, as current law requires. Some lawmakers support a split as a way to entice police to follow state law. The Kansas City Star reported earlier this month that local and state police were diverting millions of dollars that state law required to be turned over to public education. The state law requires forfeitures to go through a state court, which then usually sends them to education. But The Star found that police often instead give the money they seize to a federal agency, which keeps a percentage, then returns the rest to police.
State law prohibits law enforcement from such direct transfers to a federal agency.
Rep. Jim Kreider, a Nixa Democrat and speaker pro tem, said he worked with Nixon on the ballot measure, a constitutional amendment that has to be approved by voters as well as lawmakers. It requires law enforcement's portion to be deposited in a fund within the state Department of Public Safety. Possibly 45 percent or more would be used for school drug education and safety programs such as DARE and patrols around schools. The rest would be given to the 26 multi-jurisdictional task forces to fight the war on drugs. Nixon said the task forces have been a valuable tool, especially in rural areas combating methamphetamines.