HB421 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lawrence McAdory

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Randy WoodJim McClendonJoe FaustHarry ShiverDickie DrakeJack WilliamsRandy DavisTodd GreesonSteve ClouseBarry MaskHoward SanderfordRod ScottAlan BootheAllen TreadawayFrank McDanielRobert BentleyGreg WrenMicky HammonDavid GrimesJeremy OdenJohnny Mack MorrowMike CurtisPebblin W. WarrenJames O. GordonDemetrius C. NewtonYusuf SalaamJeff McLaughlinArtis McCampbellTammy IronsJody LetsonMarcel BlackAlan HarperJohn RobinsonJames C. FieldsWilliam E. ThigpenButch TaylorTommy ShererSteve HurstWilliam “Bill” M. BeasleyBill J. DukesRonald Grantland

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Municipalities, municipal courts, court costs for jails, distrib. for municipal jails, Sec. 11-47-7.1 am'd.

Summary

HB421 allows municipalities to levy extra court costs in municipal cases to fund jail operations and related facilities, with a dedicated Corrections Fund and spending limits.

What This Bill Does

HB421 amends Section 11-47-7.1 to allow municipal governing bodies to levy additional court costs up to the county district court's level for similar cases, with funds going into a Corrections Fund. The money must be used exclusively for jail operation, construction, debt service, maintenance, and related facilities and staff, including contracts to incarcerate municipal inmates in county or other facilities and juvenile detention centers, subject to a cap of 40% for jail-related costs. Municipalities may contract with other governments for joint facilities and may accept gifts or grants; prior contracts are grandfathered, and the act provides for a delayed effective date.

Who It Affects

• Municipal governing bodies (cities and towns) would gain the authority to impose and collect the new costs and to allocate the funds through the Corrections Fund.
• Municipal court users, defendants, and inmates would be affected by the new costs in municipal cases, with the funds used to operate and maintain jail and related facilities.

Key Provisions

• A municipality (by majority vote) may levy and assess additional court costs up to the county district court’s costs for similar cases, in municipal courts, with these costs collected into the Corrections Fund.
• The Corrections Fund must be used exclusively for the operation, construction, debt service, and maintenance of municipal jail or jails and related facilities, including contracts to incarcerate municipal inmates in county-owned facilities or other correctional facilities and juvenile detention centers, and may include salaries and expenses of municipal court officials and employees; no more than 40% may be allocated for jail-related costs.
• Municipalities may appropriate other funds, space, and property to maintain and equip jail or court facilities, may receive gifts or grants, and may contract for construction, equipment, and maintenance; they may operate joint municipal correctional facilities or court complexes and adopt joint rules with other entities.
• Contracts entered prior to the act's effective date that obligated Corrections Fund monies under previous rules shall not be affected until expiration; local acts enacted before the effective date are not repealed; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities