HB18 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve ClouseRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Dale Co., sheriff, service of process, fee established, proceeds deposited in Dale Co. Sheriff's Service of Process Fee Fund
Summary: HB18 creates a service of process fee in Dale County, deposits proceeds into a dedicated fund to support the sheriff’s office, and provides exemptions and hardship waivers.
What This Bill Does
HB18 adds two new service-of-process fees collected by the Dale County Clerk: $25 for in-county personal service and $50 for out-of-county personal service. The fees go into the Dale County Sheriff's Service of Process Fee Fund to help pay for sheriff's office needs like vehicles, communications equipment, and other technology. The Fund is separate from the sheriff's regular budget, and the Clerk distributes the fees to the Fund with administration by the Dale County Commission; a hardship waiver can exempt a person if paying would create substantial hardship, and some groups are exempt from paying.

Who It Affects
People or organizations that need the sheriff to serve documents in Dale County or outside Dale County; they would pay the new $25 or $50 fee per document.
Dale County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk of the Court, and the County Commission, who will collect, manage, and spend the funds on equipment and vehicles.

Key Provisions
Imposed fees: $25 for in-county service of process and $50 for out-of-county service of process, per document requiring personal service.
Creation of the Dale County Sheriff's Service of Process Fee Fund to supplement the sheriff's budget, used for vehicles, communication equipment, and technology, separate from the county general fund.
Collection and administration: the Clerk collects the fee and distributes it to the Fund; the Dale County Commission administers the Fund; hardship waivers are allowed if a court finds substantial hardship.
Exemptions and effective date: Dale County, its district attorney, law enforcement officials, and grand juries are exempt from paying; the act becomes effective on the first day of the 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: Dale County