SB570 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Boats and boating, Conservation and Natural Resources Department, certificate of title required for all vessels and vessel trailers, procedure and requirements, Uniform Certificate Vessel Act adopted, Sec. 33-5-9 am'd

Summary

The bill adopts the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act and creates a state system requiring titles for all vessels and vessel trailers, with new transfer, security-interest, and records processes.

What This Bill Does

It requires owners of vessels and vessel trailers to obtain a certificate of title through a designated agent (like a probate judge, director of revenue, or a dealer) and to file a completed application with supporting documents and a fee. It sets up how titles are created, maintained, and canceled, including electronic certificates and hearings if a title is rejected or canceled. It establishes how security interests (lienholders) are perfected, transferred, renewed, or terminated and how transfers of ownership are recorded on certificates. It provides exemptions for certain vessels (documented, foreign-documented, barges, vessels under construction, or dealer-owned) and describes public-record maintenance and privacy rules for title information.

Who It Affects

• Vessel and vessel-trailer owners (and buyers) in Alabama would be required to obtain a certificate of title, file applications with supporting information, pay fees, and follow the department's process for title creation and transfer.
• Secured parties (lienholders) and purchasers, along with dealers acting as designated agents, would have duties and rights under the title system, including perfections of security interests, transfers, terminations, and access to title records.

Key Provisions

• Adopts the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act and requires certificates of title for all vessels and vessel trailers; sets rules for issuing, recording, and canceling titles.
• Designates judges of probate, license commissioners, directors of revenue, and dealers as agents to handle title applications; dealers must post a bond when acting as agents.
• Imposes fees: a $10 application fee per vessel or trailer; additional administrative fees ($1.50 for dealers and $3 for probate) that may be retained by the agent; funds go to the General Fund for vessels and Highway Fund for trailers.
• Provides exemptions from title requirements for documented vessels, foreign-documented vessels, barges, vessels under construction, and vessels held by dealers for sale or lease.
• Specifies required information in an application (ownership, addresses, IDs, hull numbers, vessel and trailer descriptions, security interests, transfer details, hull-damaged status) and allows supporting records; permits electronic communications addresses.
• Requires department to issue a certificate of title within 20 days of a compliant application; allows electronic titles unless a secured party or owner requests a written certificate; provides for hearings on cancellations or rejections.
• Details how security interests are perfected, transferred, or terminated; allows new certificates to reflect changes and explains transfer-by-law and transfer-by-operation-of-law processes; and requires records to be maintained and accessible, with title brands indicating origin or prior branding.
• Amends 33-5-9 to require vessel registration and numbering in alignment with the new certificate system, linking numbering to the certificate of title.
• Effective date: January 1, 2013.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Boats and Boating