HB570 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Craig Ford
Independent
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Etowah Co., sheriff, booking fee in county jail, collection by clerk
Summary: HB570 creates a $30 booking fee for each person booked into Etowah County Detention Center who is later convicted, collected by the court clerk in the same way as court costs (but not a court cost).
What This Bill Does
It would charge a new $30 booking fee on those booked and convicted in Etowah County. The fee would be collected by the court clerk, in addition to other fines or costs, and the revenues would be allocated to county law enforcement and court funds. Specifically, $20 of the fee goes to the Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Fund, $5 to the Circuit Clerk’s Fund, and $5 to the District Attorney Fund. If the fee isn’t paid, the DA can help collect it, the Sheriff can contract for collection, and the Sheriff may withhold the fee amount from funds held during incarceration, to be repaid if there is no conviction.

Who It Affects
Defendants who are booked and later convicted in Etowah County; they must pay a $30 booking fee, which can be collected from funds held during incarceration and repaid if charges are dismissed or they are acquitted.
County offices and staff involved in funding and enforcement (the Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, District Attorney, and the court clerk who collects the fee), who receive portions of the revenue and manage or assist in collection.

Key Provisions
Provision 1: A $30 booking fee is assessed against each person booked into the Etowah County Detention Center and subsequently convicted; it is separate from other fines or costs.
Provision 2: Revenues from the fee are distributed as $20 to the Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Fund, $5 to the Circuit Clerk’s Fund, and $5 to the District Attorney Fund; enforcement provisions include DA collection assistance, possible sheriff collection contracts, and withholding from incarcerated funds with repayment if no conviction.

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