SB113 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Circuit and district courts, required to accept credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards for payment, fees authorized, Sec. 12-19-290 am'd.

Summary

SB113 would require circuit and district courts to accept credit, debit, and charge cards for paying certain court costs and government payments, authorize related surcharges, and fund these changes through a new technology and data exchange fund.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes clerks of circuit and district courts to accept credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards for payments such as court costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, and other payments owed to governmental agencies or departments, while excluding payments to private parties (like judgments, restitution, and attorney fees). It allows surcharges or convenience fees for card payments, up to the card issuer's transaction fee plus any contract costs for processing. It ratifies surcharges charged prior to the act’s effective date. It creates the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund to pay for electronic payment processing, data sharing, electronic filing, training, and related technology, with costs paid from the fund and not reducing distributions to other governmental funds.

Who It Affects

• Residents, businesses, and other people who pay court costs, fines, fees, and other government charges (those payments can be made by credit/debit/charge card under the new rules). Private payments to individuals or private entities (like judgments, restitution, or attorney fees) are not payable by card.
• Clerks of circuit and district courts and the Administrative Office of Courts, who will implement card payments, collect applicable surcharges, and manage the new Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund and related rules.

Key Provisions

• Clerks of circuit and district courts may accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards for payments of court costs, fees, fines, forfeitures, judgments (subject to exclusions), restitution, attorney fees, and other payments payable to governmental agencies or departments; payments to private parties remain excluded.
• A surcharge or convenience fee may be charged for card payments, equal to the card issuer's transaction fee plus any costs under contracts with a vendor providing payment services.
• Surcharges charged before the act's effective date are ratified and confirmed.
• The Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund is created to support electronic payment processing, data sharing, e-filing, training, and related technology; costs are paid from this fund and shall not reduce amounts distributed to other governmental funds, with additional provisions for fund management and use.
• Uniform rules for implementing these provisions will be adopted by the Administrative Office of Courts, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor's 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

Court, Circuit