HB628 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Darrio Melton
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Dallas County, court costs, solicitor's fee, civil cases in circuit and district court, distribution to District Attorney for law enforcement purposes
Summary: HB628 would create a solicitor's fee in Dallas County civil cases, equal to the existing docket fee and civil costs, with funds split between the Circuit Clerk and the solicitor/DA fund for law enforcement and related purposes.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, every civil case in Dallas County circuit and district courts would include a solicitor's fee equal to the current docket fee or civil costs. Five dollars from each case would go to the Circuit Clerk's Office each month, with the remaining amount going to the solicitor's fund or the county's district attorney fund for law enforcement or related expenses. The Circuit Clerk's portion may be used for lawful purposes upon the Clerk's request, and the solicitor's/DA portion may be used for expenses or legitimate law enforcement needs. The act takes effect immediately after passage and approval.

Who It Affects
Civil litigants in Dallas County (they would pay a solicitor's fee equal to the current docket fee/civil costs in each civil case).
Dallas County Circuit Clerk's Office (receives $5 per civil case and administers the portion used for lawful purposes).
Dallas County District Attorney or Solicitor's Fund (receives the remaining funds from each case to use for law enforcement expenses).

Key Provisions
Section 1: In all civil cases in Dallas County circuit and district courts, a solicitor's fee shall be assessed equal to the docket fee or civil court costs; $5 from each case goes to the Circuit Clerk's Office each month; the remainder goes to the solicitor's fund or DA's fund in the county (or as otherwise prescribed by law).
Section 1 (cont): The solicitor's fee amount shall be the same as the current docket fee or civil court costs distributed to the Fair Trial Tax Fund.
Section 2: The solicitor's fee may be spent by the district attorney for expenses or legitimate law enforcement purposes; the portion for the Circuit Clerk may be expended at the Clerk's request for lawful purposes.
Section 3: The act becomes effective immediately after passage and 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: Dallas County