HB195 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Napoleon BracyRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Mobile Co., Co. Commission District 1, volunteer fire departments, board established to evaluate services, co. commission authorized to levy service fee, distribution of proceeds for fire protection, implementation date extended, municipalities not to diminish funding, audits, fee designated fire protection and suppression fee, Act 2015-258, 2015 Reg. Sess., am'd and reenacted
Summary: HB195 creates a North Mobile County Volunteer Fire Department Board, authorizes a district-specific fire protection fee on certain properties, and outlines how funds are collected, used, audited, and distributed to volunteer fire departments without reducing municipal funding.
What This Bill Does
It establishes a five-member North Mobile County Volunteer Fire Department Board to review and evaluate volunteer fire services in District 1. It authorizes a fire protection and suppression service fee on qualifying dwellings and commercial buildings, up to $50 per year, with specific exemptions and collection by the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner. It directs how the fee proceeds are managed, distributed to contracted volunteer fire departments, and audited, including allowable uses, prohibitions on certain expenditures, penalties for misuse, and provisions that the fee is not a tax and municipal funding cannot be diminished.

Who It Affects
Property owners of dwellings and commercial buildings in Mobile County Commission District 1 (unincorporated areas and incorporated areas served by a volunteer fire department) who would pay the annual fire protection and suppression service fee (up to $50) with specific exemptions.
Volunteer fire departments serving District 1 (under contract with the Mobile County Commission) and the Mobile County Commission, as they receive and must use funds for fire protection, EMS, training, equipment, and insurance, are subject to audits and penalties for improper spending; municipalities must not have their funding diminished by the new money.

Key Provisions
Creates a North Mobile County Volunteer Fire Department Board of five qualified electors (three from volunteer fire departments, one from a public water supplier, and one general public member); board is appointed by the Mobile County Commission and elects a chair; meetings on call.
Board reviews and evaluates delivery of volunteer fire services in District 1, studies fire suppression, emergency dispatch, water supply, and determines a reasonable fire protection and suppression service fee; reports findings to the County Commission no later than August 1, 2015 2020.
Authorizes a fire protection and suppression service fee up to fifty dollars ($50) on owners of dwellings or commercial buildings in unincorporated District 1 or incorporated areas served by a volunteer fire department; fee is effective October 1, 2015 upon adoption and is billed by the Mobile County Revenue Commissioner with credits if a volunteer district already assesses a fee; exemptions apply.
Proceeds go to the Mobile County General Fund; administrative costs may retain 2% and an additional 2% may be kept in a reserve account for future expenses; remaining funds are distributed to contracted volunteer fire departments in District 1 for fire protection, EMS, training, equipment, and insurance, but not for food, social activities, or salaries.
All funds are subject to audit at least every two years; misused funds must be repaid with a 10% penalty; departments may lose eligibility for funds for noncompliance; excess funds can be invested or used for other fire programs in District 1.
Municipal funding to volunteer fire departments cannot be diminished, diverted, or eliminated because of the new funding.
A fire protection and suppression service fee is not a tax.

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