HB568 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Alan BakerHarry Shiver

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Baldwin Co., revenue commissioner, judge of probate, and sheriff, assessment for monetary losses from official duties, liability limited

Summary

HB568 shields Baldwin County officials from certain good-faith errors up to $5,000 per year and allows voiding licenses issued when payments come from worthless or forged checks.

What This Bill Does

It protects the Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner, Judge of Probate, and Sheriff from monetary losses up to $5,000 per year due to good-faith errors. It requires these officials to oversee staff and promptly pursue correction and recovery of losses. It also creates a process to void licenses issued based on worthless or forged checks, including steps to retrieve or void the license and credit related costs, with records updated and enforcement notified as needed.

Who It Affects

• Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner, Baldwin County Judge of Probate, and Baldwin County Sheriff — protected from monetary losses up to $5,000 per year for good-faith errors and required to supervise staff and pursue correction.
• License holders and law enforcement/public agencies — licenses can be voided if payments were made with worthless or forged checks, with a process to retrieve or void the license and to credit costs, and notify relevant agencies.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Caps monetary loss at $5,000 per year for the three offices for errors made in good faith or without personal knowledge, including losses from worthless or forged checks.
• Section 2: Officials must ensure staff exercise due care and make a diligent effort to correct errors and collect losses promptly.
• Section 3: Protection does not apply to deliberate misuse or misappropriation by the officials or their staff.
• Section 4: Officials are not liable for worthless checks if they make a good-faith effort to collect.
• Section 5: If a license payment is made with worthless or forged checks, an attempt must be made to retrieve the license; if retrieval fails, the license may be voided, costs credited, and state records updated with notification to law enforcement.
• Section 8: The act becomes effective immediately after the Governor signs it into law.

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

Subjects

Baldwin County