HB614 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randy Davis
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Harry Shiver Joe Faust Alan Baker Steve McMillan
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Baldwin County, solicitor's fee authorized equal to fee for Fair Trial Tax Fund, distrib. to circuit clerk and for district attorneys, Sec. 45-2-80.01 am'd
Summary: HB614 would require Baldwin County to assess a solicitor's fee in all criminal and civil cases equal to the Fair Trial Tax Fund costs, and route those funds to the Solicitor's Fund and District Attorney's Fund with specified uses and indigency protections.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 45-2-80.01 to impose a solicitor's fee in juvenile, traffic, criminal, quasi-criminal, and civil cases in Baldwin County. The fee amount equals the docket fees or court costs that go to the Fair Trial Tax Fund, and collected fees are distributed monthly to the appropriate Solicitor's or District Attorney's Fund (or to a prescribed fund). In criminal cases, the fee applies when guilt is established or related penalties occur and is in addition to other fees; it may be waived only if the judge determines the defendant cannot pay. In civil cases, a $3 portion goes to the Circuit Clerk, with the remainder to the District Attorney's Solicitor's Fund, and the fee mirrors civil docket costs and is also linked to the Fair Trial Tax Fund. The funds may be used to pay law enforcement expenses and other duties of the DA's office. The act takes effect immediately after passage and approval.

Who It Affects
Defendants and other paying parties in Baldwin County criminal, civil, juvenile, traffic, and quasi-criminal cases who will be assessed the solicitor's fee (with indigency protections).
County offices and prosecutors (Circuit Clerk, District Attorney/Solicitor's Fund) responsible for collecting, distributing, and using the solicitor's fee, including use for law enforcement expenses.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 45-2-80.01 to require a solicitor's fee in Baldwin County for all juvenile, traffic, criminal, quasi-criminal, and civil cases in the specified courts.
The solicitor's fee equals the docket fees or court costs that would be paid to the Fair Trial Tax Fund in criminal and civil cases, and collected fees are distributed monthly to the Solicitor's Fund or District Attorney's Fund (or as otherwise prescribed by law).
In criminal cases, the fee is assessed when guilt is adjudicated (or related events occur) and is in addition to other fees/costs; it may be waived only if the sentencing judge determines the defendant cannot pay.
In civil cases, the fee is set to the same amount as civil docket fees/costs, with $3 directed to the Circuit Clerk and the rest to the District Attorney's Solicitor's Fund; the amount is also tied to the Fair Trial Tax Fund.
The solicitor's fee may be spent by the district attorney to cover law enforcement expenses and other duties of the office in the county where collected.
The act becomes effective immediately following passage and approval by the Governor.

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