HB770 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Richard Lindsey
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Cleburne County, court costs, drug and violent crime reduction fee, criminal cases, distribution and circuit clerk and sheriff for Calhoun/Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force
Summary: HB770 creates a $5 drug and violent crime reduction fee in Cleburne County criminal and related cases to fund the local task force, with the money split between the Circuit Clerk and the Sheriff's Office.
What This Bill Does
It adds a new $5 fee in juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in Cleburne County courts. The fee is distributed as $1 to the Circuit Clerk and $4 to the Sheriff's Office per case and is collected when a defendant is found guilty, bonds are forfeited, penalties are imposed, or warrants are issued. The funds go to support the Calhoun/Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force; if the task force is dissolved, the portion allocated to the Sheriff's Office remains with the Sheriff's Department. The fee cannot be waived unless the sentencing judge is satisfied that the defendant cannot pay in the near future. The act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Defendants involved in juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in Cleburne County courts; they would pay an additional $5 per case (subject to indigence waiver considerations).
Cleburne County Circuit Clerk's Office, which will receive $1 per case from the collected fees.
Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, which will receive $4 per case and use the funds to support the Calhoun/Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
The Calhoun/Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which would receive funding to conduct its work (with funds remaining with the Sheriff's Department if the task force is dissolved).

Key Provisions
Adds a $5 drug and violent crime reduction fee in juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in Cleburne County courts, to be collected in addition to other fees.
Distributes the fee as $1 to the Cleburne County Office of the Circuit Clerk and $4 to the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office per case, with monthly disbursements.
The fee applies to cases where the defendant is adjudged guilty, a bond is forfeited, a penalty is imposed, or any alias or capias warrant is issued, and it is not waived except if the judge is convinced the defendant cannot pay in the near future.
Funds disbursed to the Sheriff's Office may be spent on expenses related to the Calhoun/Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force; if the task force is dissolved, the portion distributed to the Sheriff's Office remains with the Sheriff's Department for its expenses.
Effective immediately following 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: Cleburne County