SB81 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Court costs, filing fee, expungement of certain criminal offenses abolished, uniform petition for expungement, established, Sec. 15-27-4 repealed; Secs. 15-27-1, 15-27-2 am'd.

Summary

SB81 would remove the expungement filing fee and establish a uniform petition process to expunge certain criminal records, with updated eligibility rules for misdemeanors, violations, and non-violent felonies.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the filing fee for expungement petitions and creates a simple, uniform petition form for all expungement requests. It amends eligibility rules for expungement for misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, and municipal violations, as well as non-violent felonies, including various dismissal, acquittal, and program-completion scenarios, plus waiting periods. The Administrative Office of Courts must develop and provide the uniform petition, and the circuit court remains the exclusive venue for these petitions; the act becomes effective a few months after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Individuals charged with misdemeanors, violations, traffic violations, or municipal ordinance violations who may seek expungement under new, streamlined rules (e.g., after dismissal, no bill, not guilty, or specific two-year/three-year windows).
• Individuals charged with non-violent felony offenses who may seek expungement under new rules (e.g., after dismissal with prejudice, no bill, not guilty, successful completion of certain programs, or specified waiting periods).

Key Provisions

• Amendment of Sections 15-27-1 and 15-27-2 to set forth expungement eligibility for misdemeanors/violations/traffic/municipal violations and non-violent felonies, with defined conditions and time frames.
• Repeal of Section 15-27-4 to abolish the expungement filing fee.
• Requirement that the Administrative Office of Courts develop a simple, uniform expungement petition and provide it to circuit courts and on its website.
• Clarification that the circuit court has exclusive jurisdiction over expungement petitions and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month 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

Courts