SB398 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Trip Pittman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Baldwin Co., court costs in circuit and district court, deposit in Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, expiration date altered, Sec. 45-2-80.87 am'd.
Summary: SB398 allows up to a $15 extra court cost in Baldwin County courts for each civil and criminal case, with the money going to a county fund to support court operations and staff, and includes an expiration date and adjustment rules.
What This Bill Does
It adds up to $15 in additional court costs on every civil and criminal case filed in Baldwin County circuit, district, and juvenile courts (excluding municipal courts). The fees collected must be deposited into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund to fund court employee salaries and other lawful purposes. The costs expire on September 30, 2015 and the section will be repealed unless extended; the presiding circuit court judge can adjust or eliminate the costs if state funding changes, and may increase or decrease the amount within the $15 cap. The fee cannot be waived unless all other case-related fees and charges are waived.

Who It Affects
Individuals and entities filing civil or criminal cases in Baldwin County circuit, district, or juvenile courts will pay the additional $15 per case.
Clerks and collection officers collect the fee, and Baldwin County court operations are funded by the new Fund; court staff salaries and other lawful fund purposes are supported by the collected money.

Key Provisions
Up to $15 additional court costs on each civil and criminal case filed in Baldwin County circuit and district courts (including juvenile court), excluding municipal courts.
Fees collected are deposited into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund to fund salaries of court employees and other lawful purposes of the fund.
The court costs expire on September 30, 2015, and the section shall be repealed unless extended.
The costs may be adjusted or eliminated by order of the presiding circuit court judge if funding from the state allows, and the presiding judge may increase or decrease the costs within the $15 per case cap.
Effective date: immediately following passage and approval by the Governor.

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