HB343 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul W. LeeRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Houston Co., service of process fee, charged for process of documents in family and juvenile courts, Sec. 45-35-235 am'd.

Summary

HB343 adds new service-of-process fees in Houston County and creates a dedicated fund to support the sheriff's office and enforcement actions.

What This Bill Does

It requires a $25 fee for each document that needs personal service by the sheriff in Houston County's civil courts, and a $50 fee for documents needing service outside Alabama. The collected fees go into the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund to support law enforcement activities and related costs, and the fund is separate from the county’s general budget. The clerk collects the fees and may waive them if the court finds a substantial hardship, and several offices (including the district attorney, other law enforcement, grand juries, and Houston County) are exempt from paying. The act applies only to Houston County and becomes effective in the third month after it passes into law.

Who It Affects

• Individuals or parties who need personal service of documents in Houston County civil, family, or juvenile courts will incur a $25 per-document fee.
• Individuals or entities requiring service of documents outside Alabama will incur a $50 per-document fee.
• Houston County Sheriff's Office and related law enforcement activities will be funded by these fees through the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund.
• The Clerk of the Court and Houston County courts will collect and route the fees to the Sheriff's Fund; some groups (district attorney, other law enforcement, grand juries, and Houston County) are exempt from paying.

Key Provisions

• Imposes a $25 service-of-process fee for each document requiring personal sheriff service within Houston County's civil division (district, circuit, family, and juvenile courts).
• Imposes a $50 service-of-process fee for documents requiring personal sheriff service for matters outside the State of Alabama.
• Creates the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund to supplement the Houston County Sheriff's Office budget; funds may be used for training, equipment, vehicles, travel, and other law enforcement needs.
• The clerk of the court collects the fee and distributes it to the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund; a hardship waiver is available if a verified statement shows substantial hardship.
• The Sheriff’s Fund is separate from the county’s general fund and must not replace or diminish other sheriff budget funds.
• Exempts the district attorney, law enforcement, grand juries, and Houston County from paying these fees.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after the act becomes law; applies only to Houston 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

Houston County