HB661 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris EnglandRepresentative
Democrat
Co-Sponsors: Alan Harper John Merrill Bill Poole
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Tuscaloosa Co., court costs, additional in circuit and district court cases, distrib. for clerks and law library (2011-20972)
Summary: HB661 adds new court costs in Tuscaloosa County and directs the money to the clerks' funds and the county law library.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, it would add $20 to the cost of all civil and criminal cases in the circuit court. It would add $20 to the cost of all civil and criminal cases (including small claims) in the district court, and $10 to the cost of all traffic cases in the district court. The collected amounts would be distributed monthly: one-third to the Circuit Court Clerk's Fund, one-third to the District Court Clerk's Fund, and one-third to the Tuscaloosa County Law Library Fund. Funds to the law library fund could be used to maintain the law library, buy technology and data backup, and support salaries for court employees and other lawful purposes; the clerks' funds could be used to support the administration of the clerk offices.

Who It Affects
Residents and businesses that file civil or criminal cases in Tuscaloosa County courts, who would pay the additional court costs (and traffic cases in district court would pay the $10 charge).
The Tuscaloosa County court system, including the circuit and district court clerks and the county law library, which would receive the new funds and use them for clerks' office administration, law library operations, technology, data backup, and salaries.

Key Provisions
Adds $20 additional cost for all civil and criminal cases in the circuit court.
Adds $20 additional cost for all civil and criminal cases in the district court (including small claims, excluding traffic).
Adds $10 additional cost for all traffic cases in the district court.
Distributes the added costs monthly: one-third to the Circuit Court Clerk's Fund, one-third to the District Court Clerk's Fund, and one-third to the Tuscaloosa County Law Library Fund.
Law library fund expenditures May include maintaining the law library, purchasing technology and data backup, managing the library, and funding salaries of court employees for ongoing operation.
Clerks' funds may be used at the discretion of the respective clerk to fund administration of the clerk's offices.
Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the month following its 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: Tuscaloosa County