HB59 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Crimes and offenses, crimes motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability, to include employment as a law enforcement officer within the protected class, Sec. 13A-5-13 am'd.

Summary

The bill strengthens penalties when a crime is proven to be motivated by the victim’s employment as a law enforcement officer.

What This Bill Does

It amends Alabama law to impose heightened penalties for felonies and misdemeanors when the crime was motivated by the victim’s employment as a law enforcement officer. Felonies would carry minimum sentences by class (A: 15 years, B: 10 years, C: 2 years, D: 18 months) and may trigger habitual-offender enhancements; misdemeanors would carry a minimum of a Class A misdemeanor with at least 3 months in jail. The bill also includes a provision about local-funds expenditures, noting the act is exempt from certain amendment requirements, and it becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers who are victims of crimes, as their employment status is now a factor that can trigger harsher penalties for offenders.
• Criminal defendants who commit felonies or misdemeanors that are proven to be motivated by the victim’s employment as a law enforcement officer, who would face the specified minimum and enhanced penalties.

Key Provisions

• Adds motive-based penalties to Section 13A-5-13 for crimes against law enforcement officers where the crime was motivated by the officer’s employment.
• Felonies: minimum sentences by class (A: at least 15 years, B: at least 10 years, C: at least 2 years, D: at least 18 months) when the motive is officer employment; habitual offender status can apply if previously convicted of a felony.
• Misdemeanors: minimum sentence of a Class A misdemeanor with at least 3 months in jail when the misdemeanor is motivated by the officer’s employment.
• Local-fund provision: the bill acknowledges potential local-fund expenditure implications but is exempt from requiring local approval or 2/3 vote due to stated exceptions.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses