HB612 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Crimes and offenses, to amend threshold amounts for theft and receiving stolen property offenses, drug offense, amend sentences for certain drug offenses, create add'l drug offenses, relating to sentencing, clarify community corrections programs, Secs. 13A-12-211.1, 13A-12-212.1, 15-10-3.1 added; Secs, 13A-5-9, 13A-5-10, 13A-5-10.1, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-8.1, 13A-8-10.25, 13A-8-18.1, 13A-12-215, 13A-12-232, 13A-12-250, 13A-12-270 repealed; Secs. 12-25-34, 12-25-34.2, 12-25-36, 13A-5-6, 13A-5-8.1, 13A-12-231, 15-22-54, 13A-4-1, 13A-4-2, 13A-4-3, 13A-8-1, 13A-8-3, 13A-8-4, 13A-8-5, 13A-8-7, 13A-8-8, 13A-8-9, 13A-8-10, 13A-8-10.1, 13A-8-10.2, 13A-8-10.3, 13A-8-16, 13A-8-17, 13A-8-18, 13A-8-19, 13A-8-144, 13A-8-194, 13A-12-211 to 13A-12-214, inclusive, 13A-12-218, 40-17A-9,15-10-1, 15-20A-7, 15-20A-9 to 15-20A-18, inclusive, 15-20A-20, 15-20A-23, 15-20A-24, 15-20A-25, 15-20A-27, 15-20A-29, 15-20A-30, 15-20A-31, 15-20A-32, 15-20A-34, 15-20A-36, 15-20A-37, 15-20A-39 am'd.

Summary

HB 612 overhauls Alabama crime penalties by changing theft thresholds, creating new marijuana and drug offenses, revising sentencing rules and arrest procedures, and repealing some enhancements and habitual offender laws.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it would adjust the value thresholds that determine theft penalties, create unlawful distribution of marijuana and unlawful possession of certain drugs, expand trafficking penalties with multiple substance-specific tiers, revise penalties for solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy, allow summons in place of some arrests, repeal habitual felony offender enhancements, and update truth-in-sentencing implementation and related guidelines.

Who It Affects

• Theft and property crime defendants and potential defendants, because threshold values for theft and receiving stolen property are revised, which could change charging levels and penalties.
• Drug offenders and people accused of marijuana and other controlled-substance offenses, because new offenses and stricter trafficking and possession penalties are added, and existing enhancements are repealed or modified.

Key Provisions

• Revises threshold amounts for theft of property and receiving stolen property offenses, altering how these crimes are graded and punished based on value.
• Creates unlawful distribution of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, with specified penalties for each.
• Adds extensive trafficking provisions with specified quantity-based penalties for cannabis, cocaine, illegal drugs, morphine/opioids, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic substances, including mandatory minimum terms and fines.
• Adjusts penalties for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including new thresholds for various drugs.
• Revises unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree and related manufacturing provisions.
• Alters arrest and charging procedures by allowing officers to issue summons without an arrest warrant in certain circumstances and restricting when summons cannot be issued.
• Repeals habitual felony offender laws and other sentencing enhancements, and updates the implementation date for truth-in-sentencing along with related guidelines.
• Clarifies the use of consenting community corrections programs for Class D offenses and implements related sentencing standards changes.
• Provides for early parole consideration of certain inmates and introduces changes to sentencing and parole decisions under new sentencing standards.

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