HB559 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Kurt Wallace
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Chilton Co., court costs, additional authorized in certain cases, distrib.
Summary: HB559 adds a $10 court cost in Chilton County criminal, quasi-criminal, and traffic cases to fund law enforcement technology and communications.
What This Bill Does
In Chilton County courts, an extra $10 is taxed in criminal, quasi-criminal, and traffic cases when a defendant is found guilty, a bond is forfeited, a penalty is imposed, or an alias/capias warrant is issued. The fee is in addition to existing costs and can be waived if the judge determines the defendant cannot pay in the near future. The collected money goes into the Public Safety Technology Fund (administered by the District Attorney) and is used to support law enforcement technology or communications, not salaries, with monthly deposits and annual disbursements by November 15 to eligible agencies (those with at least five full-time sworn officers). The fund allocation includes specific shares to the DA’s office, the Circuit Clerk’s Office, and participating municipalities, with remaining funds distributed to agencies based on officer counts.

Who It Affects
Defendants in Chilton County criminal, quasi-criminal, and traffic cases who are adjudged guilty or face penalties/bond forfeiture and may have to pay the additional $10 (unless deemed unable to pay in the foreseeable future).
Chilton County law enforcement-related entities (municipal and county agencies with at least five full-time sworn officers) that would receive funding for technology and communications through the Public Safety Technology Fund, administered by the District Attorney.

Key Provisions
Imposes an additional $10 court cost in all criminal, quasi-criminal, and traffic cases in Chilton County courts when the defendant is guilty, bonds are forfeited, a penalty is imposed, or an alias/capias warrant is issued.
The additional cost is separate from other fees and may be waived only if the sentencing judge determines the defendant cannot pay in the foreseeable future.
Collected funds go to the Public Safety Technology Fund in the county treasury, administered by the Chilton County District Attorney, and used for law enforcement technology or communications; salaries or employee benefits cannot be paid from this fund.
Fund deposits occur monthly; annual disbursements occur by November 15 and require the District Attorney’s approval.
The Fund provides supplemental funding to eligible municipal or county law enforcement agencies with a minimum of five full-time sworn officers.
Administrative share: the District Attorney retains 20% of gross revenues for administrative costs; 10% goes to the District Attorney’s office operations; 5% to the Circuit Clerk’s Office; 5% to be divided among eligible municipalities.
Remaining funds are distributed to participating agencies in proportion to their number of full-time sworn officers.
The establishment and use of the Fund do not replace existing income sources for police chiefs, directors of public safety, or sheriffs.

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