SB396 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Baldwin Co., judge of probate and tax collector, co. comm. auth. to reimburse for good faith errors and worthless checks
Summary: SB396 caps monetary losses for Baldwin County's judge of probate and revenue commissioner at $2,500 per office per year for good-faith errors, with duties to prevent, correct, and pursue recovery, and limits liability for worthless checks if a good-faith effort is made.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, the offices of the judge of probate and revenue commissioner in Baldwin County would not be liable for monetary losses up to $2,500 per year per office for errors made in good faith. The offices must ensure employees exercise due care and make a diligent effort to correct errors and to collect the amount lost. The bill excludes deliberate misuse or misappropriation from protection, and it states that the offices will not be liable for worthless checks if they make a good-faith effort to collect. The act would become effective immediately after governor approval, and its provisions are severable, meaning if part is struck down, the rest still stands.

Who It Affects
Baldwin County, specifically the Office of the Judge of Probate and the Office of Revenue Commissioner, which receive a $2,500 per office annual protection from monetary losses due to good-faith errors.
Employees and clerks working in the Judge of Probate and Revenue Commissioner offices, who must exercise due care and actively pursue correction and recovery of losses when errors occur.

Key Provisions
Section 1: Sets a cap of $2,500 per office per year on monetary losses arising from good-faith errors or omissions not caused by personal knowledge, including losses from worthless or forged checks.
Section 2: Requires the offices to ensure employees exercise due care and to make a good-faith effort to correct errors and to collect the loss promptly when aware of it.
Section 3: Excludes protection from the act for deliberate misuse or misappropriation by the revenue commissioner, judge of probate, or any clerk or employee.
Section 4: States that the offices shall not be liable for worthless checks if a good-faith effort to collect is made.
Section 5: Defines severability of the act, so if part is invalid, the rest remains in effect.
Section 6: Establishes that the act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

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