HB556 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan BakerRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: State government, boards and commission, ALEA, SBI, Alabama Justice Information Commission, criminal justice information, background checks, National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact, Secs. 41-9-650 to 41-9-652, inclusive; Secs. 41-9-597, 41-9-599, 41-9-622, 41-9-629, 41-9-648 repealed; Secs. 41-9-590 to 41-9-596, inclusive, 41-9-598, 41-9-601, 41-9-621, 41-9-623, 41-9-625, 41-9-627, 41-9-628, 41-9-630 to 41-9-635, inclusive, 41-9-637, 41-9-643, 41-9-645, 41-9-646, 41-9-649 am'd.
Summary: HB 556 updates Alabama’s criminal justice information system, expands background-check authority and data sharing through ALEA and the Alabama Justice Information Commission, and adds the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact along with related funding and privacy protections.
What This Bill Does
The bill modernizes definitions and duties of the Alabama Justice Information Commission and ACJIC, clarifying their operation and authority. It authorizes ALEA to implement the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact and to charge background-check fees (up to $25) with the funds used to improve criminal history records and the state repository. It repeals several older provisions and adds new sections to permit background checks for licensing, allow criminal-history data sharing for probate-related purposes, and formalize interstate data exchange under the NCPIA, while emphasizing privacy and security requirements and penalties for misuse. It takes effect 90 days after the governor signs it into law.

Who It Affects
ALEA and other Alabama criminal justice agencies (including ACJIC) who will operate under updated definitions, rules, and procedures for sharing and handling criminal justice information, and may incur new duties and potential funding changes.
Individuals and organizations subject to background checks or licensing (such as job applicants for colleges and universities and agencies issuing permits/licenses) who may undergo background checks, have access to certain criminal history data, or rely on new or expanded data-sharing processes.

Key Provisions
Amends numerous sections to provide technical revisions, reflect current terminology, and clarify the ACJIC/AJIC’s operation, powers, and duties.
Adds sections 41-9-650, 41-9-651, and 41-9-652 authorizing ALEA to implement background checks for licensing/permitting and to participate in the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact; creates interstate data-exchange provisions for noncriminal-justice purposes under the NCPIA.
Authorizes ALEA to charge background-check fees up to $25, with proceeds deposited to the Public Safety Fund to cover improvements to criminal history records and the state repository.
Repeals five existing sections (41-9-597, 41-9-599, 41-9-622, 41-9-629, 41-9-648) and consolidates related duties under new provisions.
Requires agencies issuing permits or licenses to may require background checks through ALEA, subject to commission rules.
Allows ALEA to provide criminal history information to probate judges for name changes, adoptions, and related determinations of eligibility for administration or estates.
Ratifies the National Child Protection Act interstate exchange (NCPIA) for noncriminal-justice background checks; designates ALEA as the central repository; establishes a compact officer to administer the program; allocates related revenue to the Public Safety Fund.

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