SB251 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

State agencies, fees authorized to be lowered or assessed by agencies, requirement to apply to retain fees to fund agency deleted, distrib. as provided for fees, Sec. 41-1-11 am'd.

Summary

SB251 would let state agencies raise fees using the Consumer Price Index with limits and require the resulting revenue to follow the fee’s own governing law, with some agencies exempt.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows agencies with statutory authority to increase fees based on CPI, up to a 2% per year cap, and permits the increase to be recalculated every five years using CPI data. When a fee increase is adopted, the money can be retained by the agency or distributed according to the law that applies to that fee. Changes to the fee schedule would be treated as rules under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. Some agencies—specifically the Alabama Public Service Commission, State Parks Division, and State Banking Department—would be exempt from these provisions. The act would take effect immediately after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• State agencies that levy or assess fees: can raise fees using CPI with a 2% annual cap and must follow the fee's own law for how the funds are used.
• Fee payers (the general public and businesses): may see higher fees if CPI-based increases are adopted.
• Exempt agencies: Alabama Public Service Commission, State Parks Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the State Banking Department would not be subject to these provisions.

Key Provisions

• 41-1-11(a): Allows CPI-based fee increases with a calculation method, annual cap of 2%, and a five-year renewal process using CPI data from the previous five years.
• 41-1-11(a): Requires rounding down to the nearest dollar and specifies the CPI calculation window (end of December of the relevant years).
• 41-1-11(c): If an increase is adopted, funds shall be retained by the agency or distributed according to the law applicable to that fee.
• 41-1-11(b): Fee changes under this section are considered rules under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
• 41-1-11(d): Excludes the Alabama Public Service Commission, the State Parks Division, and the State Banking Department from these provisions.
• Section 2: The act becomes effective immediately after its 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

State Agencies