56.700.  Assistants for prosecuting attorneys, number, appointment, compensation. — 1.  The prosecuting attorney in each county of the second, third or fourth class which contains a mental health facility able to serve at least eighty persons on an overnight, inpatient basis at any one time, and which is operated by the state department of mental health, division of psychiatric services, may employ an assistant prosecuting attorney to assist in carrying out the duties of the office of prosecuting attorney relating to mental health and mental health facilities.  The assistant prosecuting attorney authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to any other assistant prosecuting attorney authorized by law.  The assistant prosecuting attorney employed under this subsection shall receive an annual compensation of fifteen thousand dollars payable out of the state treasury from funds appropriated for that purpose.

  2.  The county counselor or circuit attorney in each county of the first class with a charter form of government containing part of a city with a population of over four hundred fifty thousand and in each city not within a county may employ an assistant county counselor or circuit attorney to assist in carrying out the duties of the office of the county counselor or circuit attorney relating to mental health and mental health facilities.  The assistant authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to any other assistants authorized by law.  The assistant county counselor or circuit attorney employed under this subsection shall receive an annual compensation of fifteen thousand dollars payable out of the state treasury from funds appropriated for that purpose.

  3.  The prosecuting attorney in each county of the second, third or fourth class which contains a mental health facility able to serve at least eighty persons on an overnight, inpatient basis at any one time, and which is operated by the state department of mental health, division of psychiatric services, may employ additional investigative and clerical personnel to assist in carrying out the duties of the office of prosecuting attorney relating to mental health and mental health facilities.  The investigative and clerical personnel authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to any other personnel authorized by law.  The compensation for such additional investigative and clerical personnel, not to exceed a total of fifteen thousand dollars annually for each eligible county, shall be paid out of the state treasury from funds appropriated for that purpose.

  4.  The county counselor or circuit attorney in each county of the first class with a charter form of government containing part of a city with a population of over four hundred fifty thousand and in each city not within a county may employ additional investigative and clerical personnel to assist in carrying out the duties of the office of the county counselor or circuit attorney relating to mental health and mental health facilities.  The investigative and clerical personnel authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to any other personnel authorized by law.  The compensation for such additional investigative and clerical personnel, not to exceed a total of fifteen thousand dollars annually for each eligible county or city not within a county, shall be paid out of the state treasury from funds appropriated for that purpose.