HB603 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Richard Lindsey
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Cherokee Co., sheriff, booking fee in county jail, collection by clerk
Summary: HB603 would create a $20 booking fee for people booked into Cherokee County Detention Center who are later convicted, with the fee collected by the court clerk and revenues used to fund jail and sheriff operations.
What This Bill Does
Imposes a $20 booking fee on each person booked or incarcerated in Cherokee County Detention Center and subsequently convicted. The fee is collected by the court clerk in the same manner as court costs and is in addition to other fines or charges. Revenues from the fee go weekly to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Fund to be used for jail operations and other sheriff-approved law enforcement needs, and the fee is not considered a court cost for collection purposes. If unpaid, the district attorney may assist in collection, the sheriff may contract for collection, funds may be withheld from inmate funds to cover the fee (with repayment if there is no conviction), and the program is intended to add funding without reducing existing resources.

Who It Affects
Persons booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center who are later convicted (they would owe $20 and may have funds withheld from inmate accounts to cover the fee; repayment if not convicted).
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center (receive weekly revenues from the fee to fund jail operations and sheriff-approved uses).
Cherokee County Clerk of Court (collects the fee and records it on the docket; processes it like other court costs but the fee is not a court cost itself).
District Attorney's Office (may assist in collecting the fee if unpaid).

Key Provisions
Section 1 establishes a $20 booking fee for each person booked or incarcerated and subsequently convicted, in addition to fines and other charges.
Section 2 requires the fee to be assessed at conviction, with the clerk entering and collecting it on the docket in the same manner as court costs.
Section 3 directs that revenues go weekly to the Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Fund for jail operations and sheriff-determined uses, and clarifies the fee is not a court cost for collection purposes.
Section 4 allows the DA to assist in collection if unpaid and permits the sheriff to contract for collection, possibly paying a portion as a collection cost.
Section 5 authorizes withholding funds equal to the fee from inmate funds during incarceration, with repayment if there is no conviction.
Section 6 states revenues are in addition to other funding and do not replace existing funding sources.
Section 7 provides severability of the act (if part is invalid, remainder stays in effect).
Section 8 makes the act effective immediately after governor 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: Cherokee County