SB279 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

T.D. “Ted” Little

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Crime Stopper Commission and Crime Stopper Grant Fund, established, additional court costs in each criminal case in this state, grants, distrib. to crime stopper programs

Summary

This bill would create a Crime Stopper Commission to fund and oversee crime stopper programs in Alabama by adding a $1 court fee and directing grants for existing and new programs, rewards, and educational efforts.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Crime Stopper Commission to award grants to crime stopper programs and creates the Crime Stopper Grant Fund, funded by a $1 court cost added to every conviction. A facilitating office would collect the fees, manage the fund, and distribute grants to qualifying programs, including both existing programs and new ones, as well as funding rewards and crime prevention education. Grants are awarded based on criteria set in coordination with relevant crime stopper groups, with funds apportioned to counties by population. The bill also sets confidentiality protections for anonymous tip lines and outlines program governance and accountability requirements.

Who It Affects

• Individuals and communities who submit information to anonymous tip lines may receive rewards and benefit from enhanced crime prevention programs.
• Nonprofit crime stopper organizations (and the agencies that support them) that qualify can apply for grants and must meet governance and confidentiality requirements; defendants and the court system are affected fiscally by the added $1 court cost that funds the program.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Crime Stopper Commission with three appointed members (Attorney General, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor) serving four-year terms and empowered to award grants to crime stopper organizations.
• Establishes the Crime Stopper Grant Fund, a separate State Treasury account funded by the court fee and continuously appropriated for the act's purposes; the facilitating office collects court fees, distributes grants, and provides accounting.
• Imposes an additional court cost of $1 on every conviction for any violation, misdemeanor, or felony, with proceeds deposited quarterly into the Crime Stopper Grant Fund.
• Allows grants to be given for preexisting programs, new programs, rewards, and crime prevention education; grants are distributed to qualified programs with county funding apportioned by population across all counties as per federal census data.
• Sets eligibility requirements for grant applicants, including 501(c)(3) status, an anonymous tip line, endorsements from local authorities every three years, active membership in Crime Stopper USA or Crime Stopper International, and board requirements; programs must educate the public on crime prevention.
• Details program governance, including that each crime stopper program is responsible for its own rewards, administrative costs, and indemnifies the State against related claims; confidentiality policies protect tipper identities and information.
• Outlines the facilitating office’s duties to provide grant distributions within 30 days of award, maintain records, and report quarterly on fund balance and distributions.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses