HB803 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Locy Baker

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Henry Co. and Houston Co. (20th Judicial Circuit), pretrial diversion program, fees, distrib., Act 2003-225, 2003 Reg. Sess. am'd. (2010-21005)

Summary

HB803 updates the Houston and Henry Counties pretrial diversion program to set mandatory fees, define exact fee amounts by offense, and direct how funds are distributed to local agencies and programs.

What This Bill Does

It amends the pretrial diversion provisions to require participation fees when approved for the program, in addition to other court costs and treatment costs. It lists maximum fee amounts by offense type and adds several additional fees for various offices and organizations. It specifies that collected fees are allocated to each recipient for operations and law enforcement support, with the circuit clerk handling collection and disbursement to the district attorney and into the pretrial diversion fund, and it allows the district attorney to raise fees to align with any state pretrial diversion program.

Who It Affects

• People accepted into the Houston County and Henry County pretrial diversion program (participants), who must pay defined fees.
• District Attorney and local law enforcement agencies, which may receive funds to hire staff, buy equipment, or train personnel.
• Circuit clerk's office, which collects and disburses the fees to the district attorney and the pretrial diversion fund.
• Specific local entities in Houston and Henry Counties (Clerk of Court, arresting/ticketing agencies, Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center, Wiregrass Angel House, and the Dothan Laboratory of the Department of Forensic Sciences) that receive designated fees.

Key Provisions

• Fee schedule for pretrial diversion participation: Felony up to $850; Misdemeanor (excluding traffic) up to $500; Traffic offenses up to $300; Violations up to $200.
• Additional fees: Clerk of court filing up to $100; Arresting/ticketing agency fees up to $100 (felony), $50 (misdemeanor/violation), $25 (traffic); DFS Dothan Lab drug-related fees up to $100 (felony) and $50 (misdemeanor).
• Other designated fees: Up to $50 to the district attorney to fund related law enforcement organizations; county commissions may receive up to $100 (felony), $50 (misdemeanor), $25 (traffic) for Houston and Henry Counties respectively; Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center up to $100 (felony), $50 (misdemeanor), $25 (traffic); Wiregrass Angel House up to $150 (felony), $50 (misdemeanor), $25 (traffic).
• Use of funds: All collected fees allocated to each recipient may be used for operations (staffing, equipment, training, and other lawful purposes). The district attorney may use funds to support local/state law enforcement and related agencies.
• Disbursement process: Fees are collected by the circuit clerk and disbursed to the district attorney and into the pretrial diversion fund; disbursement must be timely.
• Adjustment provision: The district attorney may raise fees to meet state-level pretrial diversion amounts if a state program is enacted; a state program could supersede this act.
• Effective date: The act takes effect immediately upon governor’s 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

Henry County