SB142 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Greg J. Reed
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Impaired Drivers Trust Fund, name changed to Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, Secs. 16-38A-1, 16-38A-2, 16-38A-4, 32-5A-191, 32-5A-191.2 am'd.
Summary: SB142 renames the Impaired Drivers Trust Fund to the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, creates an advisory board to govern it, and makes related changes to DUI penalties and ignition interlock requirements.
What This Bill Does
It changes the fund's name and creates the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board to oversee how money is spent. It designates the fund as a payer of last resort for head and spinal cord injury care and directs dollars toward post-acute care, rehabilitation, medications, attendant care, home accessibility, and equipment. It strengthens DUI laws by setting BAC limits, increasing penalties for repeat offenses, requiring ignition interlock devices, and outlining how fines and interlock costs are distributed. It requires annual reporting to the Legislature on fund use and the impact of the new arrangements.

Who It Affects
People with head injuries or spinal cord injuries in Alabama, who would receive funding and services from the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund.
DUI offenders and other drivers in Alabama, who would face stricter penalties, mandatory ignition interlock use, license restrictions, and related fines.

Key Provisions
Renames the fund to the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund and places it in the State Treasury.
Creates the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board with representatives from multiple health, education, and public safety groups, including one senator and one representative.
Board sets priorities and criteria for fund disbursement; the Division of Rehabilitation Services uses funds according to those priorities.
Fund serves as payer of last resort for head/spinal injury care; expenditures may include post-acute care, rehabilitation, medications, attendant care, home modifications, and equipment.
Board investigates citizens' needs, identifies service gaps, and reports recommendations to the Legislature.
DUI penalties are expanded with specific BAC thresholds (0.08 for adults, 0.02 for under 21) and escalating fines and jail time for multiple offenses.
Ignition interlock devices become mandatory for various DUI offenses; durations range from 2 to 5 years, with license suspensions and restricted licenses as applicable.
Fines from DUI offenses are allocated to multiple funds, including portions designated for the AHSCITF and other state or municipal funds; special fees apply for pretrial diversion programs.
Defendants must pay interlock-related costs to approved providers unless indigent; failure to comply extends interlock requirements and can extend suspensions.
Interlock violations extend the required device period by six months; juvenile offenders under 19 are generally exempt unless ordered by a court.
The act is effective immediately upon passage.

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