HB 135 would amend the Alabama Constitution to allow deadly force in self-defense on church property in Colbert County under specific conditions and provide immunity from prosecution or civil liability if justified.
It applies only in Colbert County and defines terms like church, deadly physical force, force, and premises. It creates a legal presumption that deadly force is justified in self-defense or defense of another when a person reasonably believes someone on church premises is about to use force during certain serious crimes at the church. It also says there is no duty to retreat on church property and that people who use justified force are immune from criminal prosecution and civil suit. The bill also sets up a pretrial immunity hearing and says law enforcement can investigate but should not arrest unless there is probable cause that the force was unlawful.
Delivered to Secretary of State at 4:40 p.m. on May 7, 2020.
Clerk of the House Certification
Assigned Act No. 2020-90.
Signature Requested
Enrolled
Passed Second House
Chambliss motion to Miscellaneous adopted Roll Call 574
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 573
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Local Legislation
Motion to Local Application adopted Roll Call 83
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 82
Third Reading Passed
Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Local Legislation
Source: Alabama Legislature