SB554 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Crime stoppers programs, Crime Stoppers Advisory Board, established, duties, Crime Stoppers Grant Fund, established, facilitating office to manage grant money, statewide toll-free telephone service for criminal activity tips, authorized

Summary

The bill would create a statewide Crime Stoppers system with a new advisory board, a grant fund, a facilitating office, a toll-free tip line, and rules to fund and manage crime-stoppers programs across Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Crime Stoppers Advisory Board to award grants to crime stoppers programs in Alabama, funded by the Crime Stoppers Grant Fund. It sets up a facilitating office to collect donations, manage the fund, distribute grants, and operate a 24/7 toll-free tip line. It establishes eligibility requirements for programs to receive grants and distributes funds by county population, with confidentiality protections for anonymous tips and funds eligible for rewards, program establishment, and education.

Who It Affects

• Crime Stoppers programs in Alabama — eligible to receive grants and must meet defined criteria; must operate anonymous tip lines and follow confidentiality rules.
• Public tip providers and residents — can submit anonymous tips via the toll-free line and may receive rewards where eligible.
• Law enforcement and district attorneys — participate in program endorsements and coordinate with the advisory board; county distributions follow population-based rules.
• Counties in Alabama (67 counties) — grant funds will be distributed among counties based on population.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Crime Stoppers Advisory Board with members appointed by the Attorney General, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor; emphasizes diversity and requires annual reporting to the Legislature.
• Establishes the Crime Stoppers Grant Fund to receive donations and to award grants for existing and new programs, rewards, and crime prevention education; funds may cover administrative costs.
• Designates a Facilitating Office (the Department of Economic and Community Affairs or equivalent) to solicit donations, operate a 24/7 statewide toll-free tip line, manage the fund, and distribute grants within 30 days of award notice; requires quarterly accounting and may withhold 1% as compensation.
• Creates a statewide toll-free telephone service for tips, available 24/7, with information forwarded to appropriate law enforcement agencies or crime stoppers programs.
• Sets grant eligibility: programs must be 501(c)(3) or incorporated nonprofit, operate an anonymous tip line with cash rewards, obtain endorsements from a district attorney or law enforcement agency, be members of Crime Stoppers USA/International and Alabama Crime Stoppers Association, educate the public, and have a board of directors of at least five local citizens.
• Distributes grant funds to counties based on population and requires written findings showing how grants meet established criteria.
• Protects the confidentiality of anonymous tipsters; programs must have policies to protect tip sources and may disclose only raw statistics as allowed.

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