SB276 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clay Scofield

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Domestic violence, greater protection to victims, provided, Sec. 41-23-150 added; Secs. 13A-6-130, 13A-6-131, 13A-6-132, 13A-6-134, 13A-6-138, 13A-6-140 to 13A-6-143, inclusive, 15-10-3, 15-13-190, 15-23-62, 15-23-68, 30-5-1, 30-5-2, 30-5-3, 30-5-5 to 30-5-8, inclusive, 30-6-1 to 30-6-11, inclusive, 30-6-13, 30-7-1 to 30-7-6, inclusive, 30-9-1, 30-9-2, 41-9-621 am'd.

Summary

SB276 strengthens Alabama's response to domestic violence by standardizing definitions, expanding protections and enforcement, and creating new funding and oversight for domestic violence centers.

What This Bill Does

It standardizes the definition of domestic violence across the code and clarifies what counts as a dating relationship. It strengthens protection orders and law enforcement duties to protect victims, including harsher penalties for violations and new rules around arrest and bail. It shifts certification and funding of domestic violence shelters from the Office of Prosecution Services to the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, creates a Domestic Violence Trust Fund and a capital improvement grant program, and requires annual needs assessments to direct funds to centers most in need, along with stronger reporting and data sharing requirements while protecting victim confidentiality.

Who It Affects

• Victims of domestic violence and their children and families; they would gain clearer protections, faster enforcement of orders, safer court procedures, and better access to services and information.
• Domestic violence centers, shelters, law enforcement, prosecutors, ACADV, and DECA; they would face new certification standards, funding structures, grant programs, and coordination requirements.

Key Provisions

• Create a Domestic Violence Center Capital Improvement Grant Program under Title 41-23-150, with an application process, annual needs assessment (in coordination with ACADV), approved uses, confidentiality protections, and a cap on total grant amounts.
• Establish a Domestic Violence Trust Fund funded by marriage license fees and related fines; distribute funds to certified centers via a statewide formula that considers population and need, with a local funding requirement and specified administration rules; unspent funds are handled per statute.
• Transfer certification and monitoring of domestic violence shelters from the Office of Prosecution Services to the Department of Economic and Community Affairs; set minimum certification standards through ACADV collaboration; require annual renewal and potential suspension or revocation for noncompliance.
• Amend DV crimes (Sections 13A-6-130 to 13A-6-143) to add stronger penalties and new elements, including first-degree DV with minimum terms, enhanced minimums for violations of protection orders, classifying second-degree DV as a Class B felony, third-degree DV as a Class A misdemeanor (with escalating penalties for repeat offenses), and adding domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation as a specific DV offense.
• Add a Domestic Violence Protection Order Enforcement Act (new Article 9 in Title 41 Chapter 23) detailing what constitutes a DV protection order, how violations are defined and punished, service requirements, temporary and final orders, and the authority of law enforcement to arrest for violations without warrant if allowed by probable cause.
• Require improved reporting and data sharing: law enforcement shall provide victims with information about resources and rights; agencies must collect and share DV incident data with courts and ACJIC; establish DV fatality review teams and annual reports; ensure confidentiality and restrict access to sensitive DV center information.

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

Subjects

Domestic Violence