SB530 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Del Marsh
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Gold and precious metal buying businesses, state and county business licenses, operation from permanent place of business, record keeping required, criminal penalties, exceptions
Summary: Requires licensing, permanent-location operation, and detailed recordkeeping for gold and precious-item buyers to prevent transient businesses.
What This Bill Does
The bill creates annual state and county licenses for dealers who buy precious items to resell and requires them to operate from a permanent place of business. It requires six months of purchase records and weekly reports to local law enforcement, including buyer identity and item details. It restricts purchases from minors (18 and under) unless accompanied by a parent or guardian and imposes penalties for violations. The act also lists exemptions and has a set effective date after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects
Dealers engaged in purchasing precious items for resale must obtain state ($100) and county ($50) licenses annually, operate from a permanent place of business, and comply with extensive recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Local law enforcement agencies (police in municipalities and county sheriffs) will receive license copies, collect weekly purchase reports, and use the records to enforce the act.

Key Provisions
Dealers must obtain a state license ($100) and a county license ($50) each year before operating in Alabama.
Dealers must operate only from the permanent place of business listed on the license and must forward copies of both licenses to the local law enforcement agency within five days of receipt.
Dealers must keep six months of purchase records, including purchaser's name, address, date of birth, signature, a description of the purchaser, a valid ID number, and a list of items purchased.
Before purchase, dealers must require buyers to identify themselves with a valid photo ID and provide a traceable serial number; local law enforcement will provide acceptable ID forms.
Dealers must weekly deliver a true, complete, and legible list of all items purchased since the last report, using LE forms if issued, including item brand/serial, description, date/time, amount paid, and purchaser information.
Purchased items must be held in the same form for 15 business days after delivering the list to LE; payments must be by check payable to the named seller.
It is presumptive evidence of intent to violate if items are not listed or the list does not match the described items; items cannot be disposed of if notified as fruits of a crime.
Dealers cannot purchase items from anyone under 18 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian who must provide required identification.
The statute must be prominently displayed on the business premises.
Violations are Class B misdemeanors.
The act does not apply to purchases from retail merchants, pawnbrokers licensed by the Alabama State Banking Department, manufacturers, or wholesale dealers.
The act is exempt from Amendment 621 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Effective date: 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: Crimes and Offenses