HB688 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

Mike Hill

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Court fees increased, civil cases, criminal cases, circuit court, district court, municipal court, bail bond fees increased, distribution of proceeds to courts, sheriffs, municipalities, district attorney office, state forensic

Summary

HB688 would raise docket and bail bond fees in Alabama courts and specify how the new money is distributed to state and local court-related funds.

What This Bill Does

It increases docket fees for civil cases ($45 in circuit/district courts, $15 for small claims) and criminal/traffic cases ($40 in most criminal cases, $26 for traffic cases except parking). It also adds a filing fee ($35) and a percent-based bail bond fee (3.5% of bond value, with minimums and caps) for most bonds, with specific rules for certain releases. The new revenue is earmarked for multiple funds, including state and local court administration, sheriff operations, and solicitor and forensic services, and it requires defendants to pay these fees; penalties and collection processes are included for nonpayment, along with a temporary expiration date for the act if renewed funding isn’t provided.

Who It Affects

• Individuals charged in civil, criminal, and traffic cases who would pay higher docket fees
• Bail bondsmen, sureties, and people posting bail who would pay the new bail bond fees and filing fees
• Municipalities, counties, sheriffs, district attorneys, and solicitors who receive portions of the new fee distributions
• Clerks of court and presiding judges who collect, manage, and allocate the new funds
• State agencies and funds (State Judicial Administration Fund, Alabama Forensic Services Trust Fund) that receive dedicated allocations

Key Provisions

• Adds $45 civil docket fee in circuit/district courts (excluding child support and small claims; small claims get $15)
• Adds $40 additional docket fee in criminal cases (excluding juvenile; traffic cases get $26) and mandates collection by courts
• Allocates $2 of each traffic docket fee to the Police Officers' Annuity Fund before other distributions and $10 of municipal traffic fees to municipal operations
• Creates State Judicial Administration Fund; two-thirds of docket fees go there for court operation implementation
• Creates Presiding Circuit Judge's Judicial Administration Fund and Circuit Clerk's Judicial Administration Fund; one-sixth of circuit fees goes to each fund
• Requires funds to support local court operations (salaries, benefits, etc.) and prohibits reductions to existing funding; audits required
• Docket fees cannot be waived or remitted unless all case fees are waived; monthly distribution by clerks
• Imposes a $35 filing fee on every bail bond and a 3.5% bail bond fee with minimums and maximums ($100/$150 min, $450/$750 max) depending on misdemeanor or felony; exceptions for certain releases
• Adds collection rules for bail bond fees and penalties for nonpayment, including contempt processes and potential district attorney involvement
• For bail bond fee (filing fee) distributions: 10% to Sheriff's Fund, 45% to Court Clerk's Fund, 45% to Solicitor's Fund (plus audits)
• For the 3.5% bail bond fee: $21.50 to Sheriff's Fund; remainder distributed 40% to Municipality, 45% to Solicitor's Fund, 5% to State General Fund, 10% to Alabama Forensic Services Trust Fund
• Fees and funds are intended to support operations without reducing other funding; funds audited by public accounts
• Temporary nature: the act expires September 30, 2015 unless renewed; provisions become effective at different times (mostly 30 days after signing, with some sections later)

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

Subjects

Fees, Court