HB512 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve McMillan
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Baldwin Co., Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, court costs collected for operation, further authorized, Sec. 45-2-80.87 am'd.
Summary: HB512 allows Baldwin County to add up to $15 in court costs per case to fund the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, expanding local support for court operations.
What This Bill Does
It adds an extra court cost of up to $15 on each civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims case filed in Baldwin County circuit, district, and juvenile courts. The collected fees go into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund to pay salaries of court employees and for other approved fund purposes. The provision includes a sunset date of September 30, 2017, after which the section would be repealed, but it also allows the presiding circuit court judge to adjust or eliminate the cost based on state funding, and to increase or decrease the amount not to exceed $15 per case; the fee cannot be waived unless all other fees in the case are waived.

Who It Affects
Residents of Baldwin County who file civil or criminal cases (including traffic and small claims) will pay an additional up to $15 per case unless all other fees are waived.
Court clerks and their collection officers who collect and deposit the new fees into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund.
Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, which uses the money to fund salaries of court employees and other lawful fund purposes.
Presiding circuit court judge, who has authority to adjust or eliminate the fee if state funding changes, and to set the amount within the $15 limit.
State government funding considerations, which can influence whether the fee is adjusted or eliminated.

Key Provisions
Imposes an additional court cost not to exceed $15 on every civil and criminal case filed in Baldwin County's circuit and district courts (including juvenile court) and applies to traffic and small claims cases.
Fees collected must be deposited into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund and used to fund salaries of court employees and other lawful fund purposes.
The section includes a sunset: the court costs expire and the section is repealed on September 30, 2017, unless amended.
The presiding circuit court judge may adjust or eliminate the costs based on state funding, and may increase or decrease the amount (up to $15) as deemed necessary.
The fee is not waivable unless all other fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges in the case are waived.

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