SB48 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Del Marsh

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Cam WardTrip PittmanScott BeasonGreg J. ReedClay ScofieldJimmy HolleyJ.T. WaggonerPaul SanfordMark Slade BlackwellPhillip W. WilliamsRusty GloverBill HoltzclawGerald H. AllenArthur OrrJerry L. FieldingPaul BussmanDick BrewbakerTom WhatleyGerald O. DialBryan Taylor

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Public Safety, Secretary of Public Safety created; Public Safety Fund created, certain investigative and law enforcement function of various state entities consolidated, Department of Public Safety reorganized, Homeland Security Department eliminated, uniform changes by Code Commissioner required

Summary

SB48 would create the Public Safety Agency to coordinate public safety in Alabama by reorganizing and consolidating law enforcement and investigative functions, creating new departments, and eliminating the Department of Homeland Security.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Public Safety Agency with three departments (Department of Public Safety, Department of Investigation, and Department of Public Safety Training) and a Secretary of Public Safety to lead them. Consolidates and reorganizes many functions from existing agencies (eg, Alabama Bureau of Investigation becomes the Department of Investigation; a variety of investigative units and duties are transferred to the Department of Investigation; new Marine Police and Conservation Enforcement divisions are created within the Department of Public Safety; aviation assets are brought under DPS administration). Removes the Department of Homeland Security and moves its duties to other state agencies, with the Secretary serving as Homeland Security Advisor. Establishes a Public Safety Fund to finance the new structure and creates the Department of Public Safety Training to coordinate recruitment and training of officers.

Who It Affects

• Public safety workforce and related agencies (Department of Public Safety, Department of Investigation, Department of Public Safety Training, and newly created Marine Police Division and Conservation Enforcement Division) whose roles, leadership, and organizational structure are reorganized.
• Other state agencies and programs whose functions are moved or shared (Alabama Bureau of Investigation becoming the Department of Investigation; functions from the Alabama Department of Homeland Security moved to agencies like the Attorney General and Economic and Community Affairs; aviation, law enforcement, and grant-related duties reassigned to various units).

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Public Safety Agency in the Executive Branch, consisting of the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Investigation, and the Department of Public Safety Training, along with the appointment and five-year term of a Secretary of Public Safety to lead them.
• Transfer and consolidation of functions: the Alabama Bureau of Investigation becomes the Department of Investigation; transfer of multiple investigative units (including State Fire Marshal, ABC Board enforcement, Forestry Commission, Agriculture and Industries, Office of Prosecution Services) to the Department of Investigation; transfer of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information System to the Department of Investigation; Dignitary Protection Services moved to the Department of Investigation.
• Abolition of the Department of Homeland Security with its immigration enforcement functions moving to the Attorney General and grant management moving to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs; the Secretary serves as Homeland Security Advisor and coordinates with federal agencies.
• Establishment of a Public Safety Fund to finance the new agencies and their operations; creation of the Department of Public Safety Training to oversee recruitment and training of officers; and other reorganizations such as the Service Division gaining aviation control, the Highway Patrol absorbing certain enforcement duties from PSC, Revenue, and DOT, and the creation of the Marine Police Division and Conservation Enforcement Division within the Department of Public Safety.

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