SB312 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim McClendon
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: St. Clair Co., court costs, criminal cases in circuit and district courts, booking fee for convicted defendants booked or incarcerated in county jail, distrib. to county general fund, use for co. jails
Summary: SB312 adds a $30 booking fee to court costs in St. Clair County for defendants convicted or pleading guilty in circuit or district court, with the money going to fund a new jail and its operation after a local constitutional amendment is adopted.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires the court clerk to assess a $30 booking fee as part of court costs for defendants who are incarcerated in or booked into any St. Clair County jail and who are convicted or plead guilty in the county's circuit or district courts. The fee is in addition to existing fines and costs and can only be waived if all other fees are waived. The collected fees are remitted monthly to the St. Clair County Commission to be deposited into the county general fund to be used for constructing and operating a new county jail.

Who It Affects
Defendants convicted or pleading guilty in St. Clair County circuit or district court who are incarcerated in or booked into a county jail will pay a $30 booking fee as part of court costs.
St. Clair County government (County Commission and jail system) will receive monthly funds from the fee to support construction and ongoing maintenance/operation of a new jail.

Key Provisions
Imposes a $30 booking fee as court costs for eligible defendants.
The fee is collected by the court clerk with other costs and is added to existing fines and charges; it can be waived only if all other fees are waived.
Fees collected are remitted monthly to the County Commission to be deposited in the county general fund for jail construction and operation.
The act takes effect only after a local constitutional amendment allows additional court costs in St. Clair County.

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