HB422 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mary MooreRepresentative
Democrat
Co-Sponsors: Rod Scott John W. Rogers Oliver Robinson Lawrence McAdory Merika Coleman
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Birmingham, City of, court cost, prosecutor's fee in municipal cases in lieu of any other solicitor or prosecutor's fee, distribution to general fund
Summary: HB422 would create a new prosecutor's fee in Birmingham's municipal court that funds prosecution and law enforcement by replacing existing prosecutor fees and directing the revenue to the city's General Fund.
What This Bill Does
It imposes a prosecutor's fee in every traffic and criminal case in Birmingham's municipal court, in lieu of other prosecutor or solicitor fees, equal to the docket fees or court costs that would go to the Fair Trial Tax Fund. The collected fee is distributed monthly to the City of Birmingham General Fund. The fee applies in criminal cases where the defendant is guilty, bond forfeited, a penalty imposed, or an alias/capias warrant is issued, and it is in addition to other fees and costs (not waived unless the judge determines the defendant cannot pay in the near future). The City can use the fee to pay for prosecution expenses and other legitimate law enforcement purposes.

Who It Affects
City of Birmingham General Fund will receive monthly prosecutor's fee payments that replace other prosecutor fees and are used for city purposes.
Defendants in Birmingham municipal court may owe the prosecutor's fee in addition to other fees, with potential for indigent waivers only if the judge is reasonably satisfied of non-payment capability.
Fair Trial Tax Fund would see these docket-fee revenues redirected to Birmingham's General Fund (the fee amount is aligned with what would have gone to the Fund).

Key Provisions
Section 1: Establishes a prosecutor's fee in all Birmingham municipal court traffic and criminal cases, in lieu of any other prosecutor's or solicitor's fee, with the fee equal to docket fees or court costs that would be distributed to the Fair Trial Tax Fund; funds go to the General Fund of Birmingham monthly.
Section 2: Requires collection of the prosecutor's fee in all criminal cases where the defendant is adjudged guilty, bond forfeited, a penalty imposed, or an alias/capias warrant is issued; the fee is in addition to other fees/costs and may be waived only if the court is reasonably satisfied the defendant cannot pay.
Section 3: Allows the City of Birmingham's governing body to expend the prosecutor's fee for prosecution expenses and other legitimate law enforcement purposes.
Section 4: Repeals conflicting laws.
Section 5: Takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Birmingham