SB34 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

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, 12-14-32 am'd.

Summary

SB 34 would expand forgiveness powers for fines and costs in municipal cases, remove the mayor's power to commute sentences, and clarify judges' authority to issue warrants and hold people in contempt for failing to appear.

What This Bill Does

It would let mayors remit court costs in municipal cases and allow municipal court judges to remit fines, costs, fees, and other charges for indigent defendants. It would remove the mayor's authority to commute sentences. It would confirm that municipal judges can issue arrest warrants for failure to appear and may hold defendants in contempt (with fines and possible imprisonment) for willful failure to appear.

Who It Affects

• Indigent defendants in municipal ordinance cases, who may have fines, costs, and other charges remitted or reduced.
• Mayors of municipalities, whose power to commute sentences would be removed.
• Municipal court judges, who gain authority to remit fines, costs, and other charges and to issue warrants and hold defendants in contempt for failing to appear.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes mayor to remit court costs in municipal cases.
• Authorizes municipal court judges to remit fines, court costs, fees, payments, and other charges for indigent defendants.
• Deletes the authority of a mayor to commute sentences.
• Clarifies that municipal court judges may issue arrest warrants for failure to appear and may hold an accused in contempt of court for willful failure to appear, with possible fines and imprisonment.
• Amends Sections 12-14-15 and 12-14-32 of the Alabama Code.

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