SB228 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry MeansMayor

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

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

Summary

SB228 would let municipalities add court costs in municipal cases and direct the funds to a Corrections Fund for operating and maintaining city jails and related facilities.

What This Bill Does

Municipal governing bodies could, by majority vote, levy additional court costs and fees in municipal cases, up to the same level as district court costs for a similar case. The money collected would go into a special Corrections Fund controlled by the municipality and be used for jail operations, construction, debt service, maintenance, and related needs, including contracts to incarcerate municipal inmates in county or other facilities and for juvenile detention or court complexes. No more than 40 percent of the fund may be spent on jail-related costs; the rest can be used for other corrections facilities or court complex needs. The act also allows joint ventures with other governmental entities, gifts and grants, contracts for construction/operation/maintenance of facilities, and provides protections for pre-existing contracts; it becomes effective a few months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Municipal governing bodies (cities/towns) – gain authority to levy additional court costs and control how the funds are used through the Corrections Fund.
• Municipal jail operations, municipal court facilities, and related staff/inmates (including county facilities hosting municipal inmates and juvenile detention centers) – receive and use the Corrections Fund for operations and related needs, subject to the 40% jail-cost cap and potential joint facilities arrangements.

Key Provisions

• Authority for municipal governing bodies to levy and assess additional court costs and fees up to the level of district court costs for similar cases in municipal courts.
• Creation of a special municipal 'Corrections Fund' into which collected costs are paid, for exclusive use in jail operation, construction, debt service, maintenance, and related purposes, including contracts for incarceration of municipal inmates in county or other facilities and juvenile detention centers.
• No more than 40 percent of the Corrections Fund may be allocated to jail-related costs; the remaining funds may be used for other corrections facilities or court-related needs.
• Authority to appropriate other funds, enter contracts, receive gifts/grants, and form joint municipal correctional facilities or court complexes with other governmental entities; pre-existing contracts or resolutions remain in effect until expiration.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval; act does not repeal prior local acts enacted before its effective date.

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