HB41 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Crimes and offenses, utilities, sewer services, diversion or unauthorized use, theft of services and tampering with availability of utility services, Secs. 13A-8-10, 13A-8-23 am'd.

Summary

HB41 would add sewer services to the crimes of theft of services and tampering with utility services, making unauthorized sewer diversion illegal with penalties.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would treat diverting or diverting sewer services as theft of services and tampering with utility services, just like gas, electricity, and water. It defines sewer as a covered utility service and enumerates specific ta mpering actions (such as tampering with meters, seals, or devices, or transferring meters) that would be illegal. It sets penalties: a Class C felony if the theft amount exceeds $500, and a Class A misdemeanor if $500 or less, and states the new provisions supplement existing theft-of-services laws. The bill also notes it would not require local government funding approval under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Tenants, occupants, or any other person who illegally diverts sewer services or tampers with sewer meters or related devices.
• Sewer utility providers and local authorities responsible for enforcing these offenses.
• Local government entities, which are noted to be exempt from local-funds approval requirements for this bill because it defines a new crime.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 13A-8-10 and 13A-8-23 to include sewer services in the definition of 'services' and to specify that unauthorized diversion of sewer services is theft of services and tampering with availability of utility services.
• Enumerates prohibited acts related to sewer utilities, including connecting meters, altering or injuring meters, breaking seals, removing or transferring metering devices, using unassigned meters, bypassing or tampering with meters, tampering with locks, and any other action causing diversion or unauthorized use of sewer.
• Establishes penalties: Class C felony if the theft amount exceeds $500; Class A misdemeanor if the amount is $500 or less; the new provisions supplement existing theft-of-services law and do not repeal it.
• Clarifies that the bill would be exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one, and states the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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

Crimes and Offenses