SB28 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Municipal courts, mayors and municipal court judges, powers and duties, further provided for, mayor authorized to remit court costs, municipal court judge authorized to issue arrest warrants and hold in contempt of court, Secs. 12-14-15, 12-14-32 am'd.

Summary

SB 28 changes who can forgive fines and costs in municipal cases, removes the mayor's power to commute sentences, and clarifies judges' authority to issue warrants and enforce appearances.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows the mayor to remit court costs and allows municipal court judges to remit fines, court costs, fees, payments, and other charges when the court determines a defendant cannot afford them. It removes the mayor's authority to commute sentences for municipal ordinance violations. It clarifies that municipal court judges can issue arrest warrants for failure to appear and may hold those defendants in contempt, with penalties that can include fines and imprisonment.

Who It Affects

• Indigent defendants in municipal ordinance cases who may have fines, costs, or other charges remitted or reduced.
• Municipal mayors, whose power would be limited to remitting court costs (and pardons), but no longer include commuting sentences.
• Municipal court judges, whose authority expands to remit fines, costs, fees, payments, and other charges for indigent defendants and who may issue warrants and impose contempt for failing to appear.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the mayor to remit court costs (and, in indigent cases, allows the municipal court judge to remit fines, court costs, fees, payments, and other charges).
• Deletes the authority of a mayor to commute sentences for municipal ordinance violations.
• Authorizes municipal court judges to issue arrest warrants for failure to appear and to hold an accused in contempt of court for willful failure to appear, with possible fines and imprisonment as part of the sentence.
• Clarifies that failure to appear can trigger contempt and related penalties when the defendant has failed to appear as required.

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