HB238 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Craig Ford
Independent
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Etowah Co., solicitor's fee equal to fee for Fair Trial Tax Fund, distrib. for district attorney's office, effective on adoption of const. amend.
Summary: HB238 would create a new solicitor's fee in Etowah County criminal cases, equal to the Fair Trial Tax Fund fees, with funds going to the Solicitor's/DA's Fund and usable for the district attorney's duties.
What This Bill Does
It sets up a solicitor's fee in juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in Etowah County courts. The fee equals the docket fees or court costs that are allocated to the Fair Trial Tax Fund and is collected in all criminal cases where guilt is adjudicated, bond forfeited, penalties imposed, or alias/capias issued, in addition to other costs. Funds are distributed monthly to the Solicitor's Fund or DA's Fund and may be used by the DA for law enforcement expenses and duties; the fee can only be waived if the defendant proves indigence to the sentencing judge. The act becomes effective immediately after passage/approval or when a constitutional amendment allowing additional court costs is ratified.

Who It Affects
Defendants in Etowah County's juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases who would be assessed the solicitor's fee in addition to existing fees and costs.
The Solicitor's Fund/ District Attorney's Fund and the Etowah County District Attorney's Office, which will receive monthly distributions of the collected fees and may use the funds for law enforcement expenses and duties.

Key Provisions
Section 1 establishes a solicitor's fee in Etowah County cases equal to the docket fees or court costs paid to the Fair Trial Tax Fund, with monthly distribution to the Solicitor's Fund or DA's Fund.
Section 2 requires collection of the solicitor's fee in criminal cases where guilt is adjudicated, bond forfeited, penalties imposed, or alias/capias issued; the fee is in addition to other costs and can only be waived if the defendant proves they cannot pay to the sentencing judge.
Section 3 allows the solicitor's fee to be spent by the district attorney for law enforcement expenses and other duties of the DA's office.
Section 4 states the act becomes effective immediately after passage/approval or upon ratification of a constitutional amendment authorizing additional court costs in Etowah County.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Etowah County