HB225 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Convicted animal abusers, registration with county sheriff required, penalties, sheriff to maintain local registry, Public Safety Department to maintain central registry, public Internet access

Summary

HB225 would require convicted animal abusers to register with county sheriffs, create local and public central registries, and notify nearby residents and institutions, with penalties for noncompliance.

What This Bill Does

It would require adult animal abusers convicted of specified offenses to register annually with the county sheriff where they live, with a local registry kept by the sheriff for 15 years. The sheriff must share registration information with nearby residents, schools, humane societies, animal shelters, and other businesses within a half-mile of the abuser's location, and forward data to the Department of Public Safety, which would run a central registry publicly accessible. The act defines penalties for noncompliance or providing false information, and allows the public to access most registration data online, by phone, or in person, excluding Social Security numbers.

Who It Affects

• Convicted animal abusers (18+), who must register and renew annually for 15 years and must provide detailed personal and offense information.
• County sheriffs and local governments, who must maintain local registries and notify nearby residents and institutions of registrations.
• Residents, schools, humane societies, animal shelters, and nearby businesses within a half-mile radius of the abuser, who would receive notification and access to registration information (excluding SSN).
• Department of Public Safety, which would maintain a central, publicly accessible registry and receive local registry data.
• The general public, who would gain online/phone/in-person access to the central registry (excluding SSNs).

Key Provisions

• Defines animal abuser as an adult convicted of specific Alabama offenses or comparable out-of-state offenses.
• Requires annual registration with the county sheriff where the abuser resides and 15-year renewal period; initial registration and ongoing updates are mandatory.
• Sheriff to maintain a local registry and distribute registration information to residents, schools, humane societies, animal shelters, and businesses within a half-mile radius (excluding Social Security numbers); forward data to the Department of Public Safety.
• Department of Public Safety to create and maintain a central, publicly accessible registry; all information except Social Security numbers must be publicly available.
• Penalties include a $1,000 fine or 30 days in jail for intentional noncompliance or providing false information.
• Local registries and the central registry are maintained for the 15-year registration period.
• The bill is explicitly exempt from the local-expenditure restrictions of Amendment 621 due to establishing a new or amended crime definition.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial 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

Crimes and Offenses