HB67 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Indigent Defense Advisory Boards, immunity for board members, annual meetings required, governing rules to be adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services, Sec. 15-12-4 am'd.

Summary

HB 67 would give civil immunity to voluntary indigent defense advisory boards in Alabama circuits and allow substitution for the presiding judge if there is a conflict of interest, while clarifying board structure and duties.

What This Bill Does

It creates five-member voluntary indigent defense advisory boards in each circuit, specifying composition (presiding judge as chair, local bar association president, and three other attorneys) and one-year terms with possible reappointment. It provides civil immunity for actions taken by board members and allows substitution by another judiciary member if the presiding judge has a conflict; vacancies are filled by the presiding judge. The boards must meet at least quarterly with a three-member quorum, have travel expenses reimbursed (no compensation), and have the power to analyze and determine indigent defense methods in the circuit, with the director able to appeal the board’s determinations to the Indigent Defense Review Panel, whose decision is final. The act also extends the immunity to board members and sets an effective date about three months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Voluntary indigent defense advisory board members in each circuit — they gain civil immunity for their actions, travel expenses are covered, and they serve on a five-member board with specified composition and terms.
• Judges, local bar associations, and attorneys in each circuit — presiding judges serve as chair (or are substituted if there is a conflict), vacancies are filled by the presiding judge, and they influence how indigent defense is organized and evaluated in their circuit.

Key Provisions

• Creation of five-member voluntary indigent defense advisory boards in each judicial circuit, with composition including the presiding circuit judge as chair, the president of the local circuit bar association, and three other attorneys; diversity considerations apply; one-year terms with possible reappointment.
• Civil immunity for actions of advisory board members; immunity mirrors that for state agents (Section 36-1-12).
• If the Presiding Judge has a conflict of interest, another judiciary member from the circuit may serve on the board; vacancies filled by the presiding judge.
• Board meeting requirements: at least quarterly meetings; three-member quorum; travel expenses paid by the office; members serve without compensation.
• Powers and duties: analyze, study, and determine the method of indigent defense systems in the circuit; the director may appeal board determinations to the Indigent Defense Review Panel, whose decision is final; the board can provide information and comment on related matters.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and 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