HB56 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Drugs, prohibit unlawful sale of drug paraphernalia and controlled substances near church, prohibit sales of drug paraphernalia near school, Secs. 13A-12-250, 13A-12-260 am'd.

Summary

HB 56 would ban the sale of drug paraphernalia within three miles of schools and near churches, and it would add penalties for selling drugs or paraphernalia in those areas while expanding paraphernalia definitions and related offenses.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits the sale of drug paraphernalia on or within three miles of a school campus and bars unauthorized sale of controlled substances or paraphernalia on church grounds or within three miles of a church, with a five-year, no-probation prison term for unlawful sales in these areas. It defines drug paraphernalia and creates penalties for using paraphernalia to commit drug offenses, for delivering or selling paraphernalia, and for selling to someone under 18, including possible felony charges and a firearm-related enhancement in some cases. It also provides for forfeiture of paraphernalia and notes a local-funds expenditure consideration under a constitutional amendment, with an effective date after passage.

Who It Affects

• Businesses or individuals who sell drug paraphernalia or controlled substances near schools or churches would face new location-based prohibitions and stiff penalties.
• People who use drug paraphernalia to commit drug offenses, deliver or sell paraphernalia (including to minors), and certain cases involving firearms would face expanded misdemeanor or felony penalties; local governments could be affected financially by the local-funds provision.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits sale of drug paraphernalia on or within three miles of a school campus and prohibits unauthorized sale of controlled substances or paraphernalia on church grounds or within three miles of a church, with five-year incarceration for unlawful sales in these areas.
• Provides a detailed definition of drug paraphernalia and lists specific items and circumstances that qualify, plus factors for determining paraphernalia in court.
• Imposes penalties for use/possession with intent to use paraphernalia to violate drug laws (Class A misdemeanor), for paraphernalia use to manufacture drugs (Class C felony, with possible Class B felony if a firearm is involved), and for delivery or sale of paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor, with stricter penalties for selling to someone under 18).
• Includes a contraband/forfeiture provision for drug paraphernalia and notes that the bill would require a new or increased local fund expenditure but is exempt from certain local-funding approval requirements; becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Drugs