SB326 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Coosa Co., judge of probate, fees for remote access of records, authorized, disposition of funds

Summary

Coosa County's judge of probate would be allowed to charge a fee for remote access to probate records and use the money to support record-keeping operations.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the judge of probate can charge up to $1.50 for remote access to records, or the equivalent of the regular photocopy fee, whichever is higher. The collected fees go into a special Probate Recording Fund. The fund can be spent on keeping, preserving, and organizing records—such as retention, archiving, reconstruction, scanning, photocopying, and maintaining recording equipment—and on protecting records from damage. The fund will be audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

Who It Affects

• People who access Coosa County probate records remotely may be charged a fee for that access.
• The Coosa County judge of probate and the probate office will collect and manage the new fee revenue and use it for records-related activities; oversight is provided by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

Key Provisions

• Allows the judge of probate to charge and collect remote access fees up to $1.50 or the equivalent of the regularly established photocopy fees, whichever is greater.
• Fees are deposited into the Probate Recording Fund, a special fund overseen by the judge of probate.
• Funds in the Probate Recording Fund may be disbursed for records retention, archiving, reconstruction, preservation, maintenance (including scanning and photocopying), equipment purchase/maintenance/operation, and protection of records from environmental decay and damage.
• The Probate Recording Fund is audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts in the same manner as other funds.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Coosa County