SB362 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

William “Bill” M. BeasleyHarri Anne SmithDick BrewbakerCam WardHank SandersArthur OrrJimmy HolleyQuinton RossLinda Coleman-MadisonTammy IronsPriscilla DunnRoger Bedford, Jr.Bobby D. SingletonJerry L. FieldingRodger Smitherman

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Sex Offenders, registration and community notification, technical revisions and citations update various sections, petition for relief from employment, residency living restriction, civil division of circuit courts, absconding without registering, penalty, Secs. 12-15-107, 12-15-116, 13A-5-2, 13A-5-6, 14-9-41, 15-18-8, 15-19-7, 15-20A-4 to 15-20A-7, incl., 15-20A-9, 15-20A-11, 15-20A-14, 15-20A-16, 15-20A-18, 15-20A-21 to 15-20A-26, incl., 15-20A-28, 15-20A-29, 15-20A-32, 15-20A-34, 15-20A-35, 15-20A-37, 15-20A-39, 15-20A-40, 15-20A-43, 15-20A-45, 15-20A-46, 15-22-27.3, 32-6-49.24, 36-18-24, 36-18-25, 38-13-2, 38-13-4

Summary

SB362 updates Alabama's sex offender laws with technical revisions, adds new reporting duties, creates pathways to relief from certain restrictions, and sets penalties for absconding or failing to register.

What This Bill Does

It updates internal references in the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act to reflect current law. It clarifies that petitions to relieve someone from registration, employment, or living restrictions must be filed in the civil division of the circuit court. It adds a penalty, a Class C felony, for absconding and not registering in the county where the person declared they would reside, and it requires sex offenders to list all Internet service providers used. It creates or clarifies procedures for seeking relief from residency and employment restrictions (and from registration in some juvenile or limited cases), including court hearings, notice to victims, and specific substantive standards for granting relief, while noting local fund expenditure considerations under Amendment 621 as exempt.

Who It Affects

• Sex offenders in Alabama: new duties (listing Internet providers), potential penalties for absconding or failing to register in the declared residence county, and new or clarified avenues to petition for relief from residency, employment, or registration restrictions.
• Courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies: data sharing, handling of civil petitions for relief, required notices to victims, hearings, and ongoing duties around registration, verification, and community notification.

Key Provisions

• Technical revisions to update citations in the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act to reflect current law.
• Petitions for relief from registration, employment, or living restrictions must be filed in the civil division of the circuit court.
• New penalty (Class C felony) for a sex offender who absconds and fails to register in the county where they declared intent to reside; triggers immediate warrants and notifications to federal and National Sex Offender Registry systems.
• Sex offenders must provide law enforcement with a list of all Internet service providers used.
• Constitutional note under Amendment 621: local expenditure impacts are addressed with specified exceptions, and the bill is treated as exempt from local-vote requirements.
• Relief from residency restrictions: court may grant full or partial relief based on factors including risk to public and offender rehabilitation, with required notices and hearings.
• Relief from employment restrictions: process to petition for relief, with criteria and hearings, and possible partial relief depending on circumstances.
• Relief from registration for certain juvenile and specific offenses: pathways for juveniles and certain offenses to petition for relief after set periods, with detailed filing and notice requirements.

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

Subjects

Sex Offenders