HB695 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim Barton
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Mobile Co., constables, qualifications, minimum standards, and training, Constable Administrative Board, established, members, powers, duties, compensation, yearly training requirements, Act 2005-95, 2005 Reg. Sess. repealed
Summary: HB695 creates a required training and conduct framework for Mobile County constables, establishes a governing Constable Administrative Board to oversee standards and complaints, and repeals a 2005 act.
What This Bill Does
It requires constables to meet minimum peace officer training, including 15 hours of annual training, with new entrants having 12 months to complete and proof due by February 1 each year. It creates the Constable Administrative Board with three appointees (County Commission, Sheriff, and presiding judge) to establish a code of conduct, oversee complaints, and sanction conduct violations. The bill also authorizes suspensions for non-compliance, provides due-process procedures, and repeals the prior Act 2005-95.

Who It Affects
Constables in Mobile County who must complete the required training, log it each year, and may face sanctions or removal for non-compliance.
Mobile County residents and local government oversight bodies (County Commission, Sheriff, and Circuit Court) who gain a formal code of conduct, a standardized complaint process, and board-driven accountability for constables.

Key Provisions
Minimum training requirement: constables must meet minimum standards and complete at least 15 hours of training per year, with new entrants required to finish within 12 months; existing constables on the act's effective date are exempt from the initial training but must comply as specified.
Training administration: the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission provides the required training at the constable's expense and in accordance with its policies; proof of training must be submitted to the Constable Administrative Board by February 1 of the following calendar year.
Constable Administrative Board: a three-member board (appointed by the Mobile County Commission, the Sheriff, and the presiding judge) that elects a chair, meets at least annually, and reports activities to the Sheriff, the presiding judge, and the County Commission; members serve without pay and for defined terms with term limits.
Code of Conduct and complaints: the board may establish a Constable Code of Conduct, set complaint-handling procedures, and sanction constables who do not comply; amendments require approval from the Presiding Judge unless no disapproval is issued within 30 days.
Disciplinary powers: the board can dismiss or dismissively handle complaints, assign informal or formal counseling, issue written reprimands, suspend a constable up to six months, or indefinitely suspend for willful failure to obtain required training; it may involve other agencies and notify the District Attorney as needed; notices may be served by certified mail.
Funding: Mobile County Commission may fund the board's administrative and operational expenses.
Repeal and effective date: Act 2005-95 is repealed, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after 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: Mobile County