SB115 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Drug paraphernalia, use to analyze or test controlled substances, excluded from criminal violations re use, possession, or sale for use to test or analyze controlled substance, Sec. 13A-12-260 am'd.

Summary

SB 115 would narrow the definition of drug paraphernalia by removing testing and analyzing equipment from what counts as paraphernalia, reducing criminal penalties for those items.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 13A-12-260 to strike from the drug paraphernalia definition the items used for testing or analyzing controlled substances. As a result, testing equipment and kits would no longer be considered paraphernalia under this law, which would lessen or remove related criminal penalties for using or possessing those items. Other drug paraphernalia offenses and penalties for different types of paraphernalia remain in place. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted into law.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who use or possess testing or analyzing equipment for controlled substances would be less likely to be charged under this law for those specific items.
• Sellers, manufacturers, or distributors of testing equipment would see those items no longer classified as drug paraphernalia under this statute, potentially reducing penalties or forfeiture related to those items.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Section 13A-12-260(a): remove testing equipment used for identifying, analyzing, or testing the strength, purity, or other characteristics of controlled substances from the definition of 'drug paraphernalia'.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval (or when it becomes law by other means).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances