HB380 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Municipal courts, mayors and municipal court judges, mayor authorized to remit court costs imposed by municipal court judge, municipal court judges authorized to remit certain costs upon a showing of indigency, mayor's authority to commute sentences removed, municipal court judges authorized to issue arrest warrants and hold certain persons in contempt of court, Secs. 12-14-15, 12-14-31, 12-14-32 am'd.

Summary

HB380 would expand how fines and costs are handled in municipal cases, allow indigent relief from those amounts, remove the mayor’s power to commute sentences, and give municipal court judges new tools to enforce appearance in court.

What This Bill Does

A mayor would be able to remit court costs. A municipal court judge could remit fines, costs, fees, payments, and other charges if the defendant cannot afford them. The bill removes the mayor’s authority to commute sentences. Municipal court judges would be able to issue arrest warrants for failure to appear and can hold willful non-appearance in contempt, with possible fines and imprisonment.

Who It Affects

• Defendants in municipal ordinance cases, especially those who cannot afford to pay fines, costs, or other charges.
• Mayors and municipal court judges, whose powers would change: mayors gain authority to remit costs, judges gain authority to remit fines/costs upon indigency, the mayor loses the power to commute sentences, and judges gain authority to issue warrants and hold contempt for failure to appear.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes a mayor to remit court costs and allows a municipal court judge to remit fines, costs, fees, payments, and other charges when the defendant cannot afford to pay the full amount.
• Authorizes a municipal court judge to remit fines, court costs, and other charges upon a showing of indigency.
• Deletes the mayor's authority to commute sentences for municipal ordinance violations.
• Authorizes municipal court judges to issue arrest warrants for defendants who fail to appear in court and to hold those who willfully fail to appear in contempt of court.
• Contempt for failing to appear may include fines and imprisonment, and warrants may cover failures to appear after conditional release on appearance bonds.

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

Subjects

Court, Municipal