HB22 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Stored wire and electronic communications, transactional location records, pen registers, and trap and trace devices, federal law to be followed regarding these devices, use of such devices authorized in emergency situations relating to missing persons

Summary

HB22 would align Alabama’s rules for accessing stored communications and location data with federal law and create emergency procedures for pen registers, trap-and-trace devices, and transactional location records in missing-person cases.

What This Bill Does

It requires Alabama’s procedures for access to stored wire and electronic communications and location records and the use of pen registers or trap-and-trace devices to be coextensive with federal law. It establishes procedures for installing or using emergency pen registers, trap-and-trace devices, and transactional location records, including guidelines for their use when a missing-person emergency is declared. It allows special written authorization from designated officials to deploy these devices in emergencies and may authorize disclosure of certain locating information. It defines when emergencies can be declared (disappearances, runaway children, or missing persons) and states the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors: can initiate emergency surveillance (pen registers/trap-and-trace) and access location data in missing-person emergencies under written authorization and federal-law rules.
• Wire and electronic communications service providers and their customers/subscribers: must follow the coextensive procedures and may have their stored records accessed or disclosed during emergencies declared for missing persons.

Key Provisions

• Procedures for access to stored communications and location records and for installation/use of pen registers and trap-and-trace devices shall be coextensive with federal law (18 U.S.C. sections 2707-2712 and 3121-3127).
• Emergency pen registers and trap-and-trace devices may be installed under federal law (18 U.S.C. 3125) with written designation by the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney who has felony-prosecution jurisdiction; order must authorize the investigation.
• Emergencies may authorize disclosure of call-identifying, addressing, routing, or signaling information that could reveal location of a subscriber or user.
• Emergencies may be declared in cases involving disappearance, runaway child, or missing person where danger is suspected, authorizing installation and data disclosure as described.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Electronic Monitoring Devices