SB453 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Del Marsh
Republican
Co-Sponsor: Arthur Orr
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Victims' Compensation Act, to ensure that victims obtain a pro-rata share of court-ordered restitution collected before other distributions are made, Sec. 12-17-225.4 am'd.
Summary: SB453 changes how court-ordered restitution collections are distributed, prioritizing victims' pro-rata share and outlining specific splits for the district attorney and circuit clerk.
What This Bill Does
It adds a 30% collection fee to restitution funds after a case is turned over to the district attorney for collection, with exceptions for money collected through the income tax refund offset program or private contract collection. The total amount collected is distributed in defined parts: 75% of the collection fee and 17.31% of the total amount collected go to the DA fund, while 25% of the collection fee and 5.77% of the total amount collected go to the circuit clerk's fund. After these distributions, victims receive a pro-rata share of the restitution originally ordered, before any other distributions. Any remaining funds are disbursed pro rata monthly as allowed by law.

Who It Affects
Victims of crimes: will receive a pro-rata share of restitution from collections before other distributions.
District Attorney's and Circuit Clerk's offices: will receive defined portions of the collections to fund their offices.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 12-17-225.4 to change how court-ordered restitution funds collected by the district attorney are distributed.
Implements a 30% collection fee on funds due after transfer to the district attorney for collection, with exceptions for certain collection methods.
Specifies distribution splits: 75% of the collection fee and 17.31% of the total amount collected go to the DA fund; 25% of the collection fee and 5.77% of the total amount collected go to the circuit clerk fund.
After these distributions, the pro-rata share of restitution originally ordered for victims is paid before any other distributions.
Remaining funds (fees, fines, penalties, etc.) are disbursed pro rata under existing law on a monthly basis.
Monies collected through the income tax refund offset program or by a private contract collection entity are not subject to these distributions.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor's approval.
Known as The Victims' Compensation Act of 2014.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Courts