HB360 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Elaine Beech
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Washington Co., sheriff, service of process, fee authorized, sheriff's law enforcement fund established, distribution of funds provided for
Summary: HB360 would add service-of-process fees in Washington County and create a dedicated Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund funded by those fees, with a portion going to the Circuit Clerk and the rest used for law enforcement.
What This Bill Does
It adds a $25 service-of-process fee for personal service of documents in Washington County civil cases, and a $50 fee for matters outside Alabama. It creates the Washington County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund to use for law enforcement purposes, at the sheriff's discretion. The clerk collects the fees, with $10 per document going to the Circuit Clerk's Fund for clerk operations and the remaining amount deposited into the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund. The fund is separate from the sheriff's county budget and cannot replace existing funding. Exempts the district attorney, law enforcement, grand juries, and Washington County from paying these fees.

Who It Affects
Civil litigants and others who file documents and require personal service in Washington County, who would pay the $25 per document (and $50 for out-of-state matters).
The Washington County Sheriff's Office, which would manage and spend the new Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund for law enforcement purposes.
The Circuit Clerk's Office, which would receive $10 per service-of-process fee to support clerk operations.
The district attorney, law enforcement, grand juries, and Washington County, which are exempt from paying the new fees.

Key Provisions
Adds a service of process fee of $25 for personal service in the county civil courts; $50 for service outside Alabama.
Creates the Washington County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund to be used for law enforcement purposes at the sheriff's discretion.
Distributes the collected fees: $10 per fee goes to the Circuit Clerk's Fund for clerk operations; the remaining amount goes to the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund.
The Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund is separate from the sheriff's county budget and cannot replace existing funding.
Exempts the district attorney, law enforcement, grand juries, and Washington County from paying these fees.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and 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: Washington County