HB562 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Elaine Beech
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Washington Co., solicitor's fee authorized equal to fee for Fair Trial Tax Fund, distrib. to circuit clerk and district attorney
Summary: HB562 creates a civil-case solicitor's fee in Washington County equal to the docket fee that would go to the Fair Trial Tax Fund, and distributes it to the circuit clerk and the solicitor's/DA fund.
What This Bill Does
The bill establishes a solicitor's fee in all civil cases in Washington County circuit and district courts, set at the same amount as the docket fee or court cost that would be assessed and distributed to the Fair Trial Tax Fund. Each case will distribute $3 to the circuit clerk for the Circuit Clerk's Fund, with the remainder going to the solicitor's fund or the county district attorney's fund. The solicitor's fee can be used by the district attorney to pay expenses and for legitimate law enforcement purposes. The act takes effect on the first day of the third month after it is approved by the Governor.

Who It Affects
Civil litigants in Washington County (they pay the solicitor's fee as part of civil case costs).
Washington County Circuit Clerk's Office (receives $3 per case to deposit into the Circuit Clerk's Fund for office operations).
Washington County Solicitor's Fund or the County District Attorney's Office (receives the remaining fee to use for authorized purposes).

Key Provisions
In all civil cases in Washington County, a docket fee (solicitor's fee) is assessed equal to the docket fee or court cost assessed in civil cases and distributed to the Fair Trial Tax Fund.
Fees collected are distributed monthly: $3 per case to the Circuit Clerk's Fund for the clerk's office operations; the remainder to the solicitor's fund or the county's district attorney's fund.
The solicitor's fee may be expended by the district attorney for expenses incurred and for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
The act becomes law on the first day of the third month following its passage and the Governor's 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: Washington County