HB691 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Elwyn Thomas
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Blount Co., court costs, Legislature authorized to alter, distribution, Amendment 344 (Section 2, Local Amendments, Blount County, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.
Summary: HB691 would propose a constitutional amendment to let the Legislature fix and distribute Blount County court costs, fees, and related salaries.
What This Bill Does
If passed, the amendment would authorize the Legislature to fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court in Blount County, along with the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries of certain county officers. It could place those officers on a salary and require that the fees and other payments go into the county treasury to fund salaries. The amendment also states that, once approved, existing laws about salaries or court costs could take effect without another election, while opposing votes would stop those acts. The overall purpose is to allow the Legislature to control these costs and how the money is distributed within Blount County.

Who It Affects
Blount County residents and taxpayers, who could see changes in court-related costs and how funds are distributed and used in the county.
Named Blount County officers (probate judge, tax assessor, circuit clerk, and revenue commissioner), whose salaries, fees, and compensation could be fixed or altered and funded through the county treasury.

Key Provisions
The Legislature may, by general or local laws applicable to Blount County, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries (including how they are paid) for the probate judge, tax assessor, circuit clerk, and revenue commissioner of Blount County; and may place these officers on a salary with related fees paid into the county treasury.
If the amendment is approved, any prior law that places officers on salary or fixes court costs and fees in Blount County may become effective without another election; if the amendment is approved and voters vote against it, such acts have no force.
The purpose of the amendment is to give the Legislature authority to fix costs and charges of court in Blount County and provide for their distribution.
An election on the proposed amendment would be held as required by Alabama’s constitutional and election laws, with a ballot description and a Yes/No choice for voters in Blount County.

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