SB108 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Gerald H. AllenJerry L. FieldingPaul BussmanRusty GloverShadrack McGillJimmy HolleyBill HoltzclawBryan TaylorGreg J. ReedPaul SanfordGerald O. DialCam WardPhillip W. WilliamsDick BrewbakerTom WhatleyJ.T. WaggonerTrip PittmanClay ScofieldMark Slade BlackwellScott Beason

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Law Enforcement Agency, state, created, secretary appointed by Governor, law enforcement and investigative, and homeland security functions of, consolidated and reorganized, secretary to serve as chair of the Criminal Justice Information Center Commission, certain Public Safety Funds, created, Secs. 41-9-592, 41-9-593 am'd.

Summary

SB108 creates the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to coordinate public safety by merging key existing agencies under a Secretary who also serves as Homeland Security Advisor.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, combining the Department of Public Safety and the State Bureau of Investigations, led by a Secretary appointed by the Governor who also acts as Homeland Security Advisor. It transfers and consolidates functions from other agencies, creates the Public Safety Fund to finance these efforts, and establishes new divisions like the Protective Services Unit and the Marine Police Division. It also moves the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center's role to the SBI, renames the commission to the Alabama Justice Information Commission, and designates the Secretary as chairman. The bill includes protections for employees from legacy agencies, sets officer immunity, and schedules specific effective dates for the changes.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers and staff from legacy agencies who transfer to the new Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, who will retain their existing classifications and benefits.
• Employees hired after January 1, 2015 who are certified as peace officers and perform law enforcement duties, who will be considered officers but may not receive certain legacy benefits.
• The Alabama Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Investigations, and agencies whose functions are transferred (e.g., Alcoholic Beverage Control Board law enforcement unit, Forestry Commission investigative unit, Department of Agriculture and Industries investigative unit), whose duties will move to the new structure.
• The general public and state government stakeholders, who will experience consolidated public safety operations, new divisions, and a centralized approach to homeland security and investigations.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency within the Executive Branch to coordinate public safety, comprising the Department of Public Safety and the State Bureau of Investigations.
• Creates the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to head the agency, appoint department heads, advise the Governor on public safety, and serve as Homeland Security Advisor with authority to delegate duties.
• Establishes the Public Safety Fund to pay for agency operations, with restrictions on fund use if funds are earmarked for specific purposes.
• Creates the State Bureau of Investigations, succeeding the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, with a Director appointed by the Secretary and immunity for officers; transfers certain investigative functions from the ABC Board, Forestry Commission, and Department of Agriculture and Industries to SBI.
• Transfers all Homeland Security functions to the Secretary and moves certain enforcement functions to the Department of Public Safety; creates new divisions such as Protective Services Unit and Marine Police Division.
• Renames the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center Commission to the Alabama Justice Information Commission, keeps regulatory responsibilities but removes employee supervision duties, and designates the Secretary as the chair.
• Transfers responsibilities, records, and personnel from merged units to the succeeding department or entity as appropriate, and requires Code changes to reflect reorganized structure.
• Effective dates: Sections 1-2 take effect immediately; remaining provisions become effective January 1, 2015.

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

Subjects

Public Safety Department