HB491 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan BakerRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Escambia Co., sheriff, booking fee in county jail, collection by clerk
Summary: HB491 would impose a $30 booking fee on individuals booked into the Escambia County Detention Center and later convicted, with the money funding the Escambia County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement needs.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, every person booked into the Escambia County Detention Center and later convicted would owe a $30 booking fee, in addition to any fines or costs. The fee is collected by the court clerk and recorded on the docket; it is collected like court costs but is not itself a court cost. Revenues from the fee go to the Escambia County Sheriff's Department Law Enforcement Fund to be used for salaries, training, and other law enforcement expenses as determined by the sheriff. If the fee is not paid, the district attorney can assist in collection, the sheriff may contract for collection, and funds held during incarceration can be withheld to cover the fee (repaid if there is no conviction).

Who It Affects
Individuals who are booked into the Escambia County Detention Center and are convicted, who would pay a $30 booking fee in addition to other penalties.
Escambia County Sheriff's Department, which would receive the booking fee revenues and use them for salaries, training, and other law enforcement costs.

Key Provisions
A $30 booking fee assessed against and collected from each person booked or incarcerated and subsequently convicted, in addition to fines or court costs.
The fee is assessed upon conviction; the clerk records the amount on the docket and collects it in the same manner as court costs, but it is not deemed a court cost.
Revenues go to the Escambia County Sheriff's Department Law Enforcement Fund for salaries, training, or other law enforcement uses as determined by the sheriff.
The district attorney may assist in collection if unpaid; the sheriff may contract for collection and pay a portion of the fees as a collection cost.
Sheriff may withhold amounts equal to the fee from funds held during incarceration; withheld funds are repaid if charges are dismissed or acquitted.
Revenues are additive to existing funding and shall not reduce or replace funding from other sources.
Provisions are severable; if any part is invalid, the rest remains in effect.
Effective date: 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: Escambia County