HB13 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Proncey RobertsonShane StringerAndy Whitt

Session

Regular Session 2021

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

HB13 would impose higher prison terms when a crime is motivated by the victim’s employment as a law enforcement officer, adding specific minimum sentences for felonies and a minimum of three months for the most serious misdemeanor.

What This Bill Does

It amends the law to require additional penalties if a crime against a law enforcement officer is proven to be motivated by the officer’s job. Felonies would carry minimum sentences: Class A at least 15 years, Class B at least 10 years, Class C at least 2 years, and Class D at least 18 months; a prior felony could trigger enhanced punishment under the Habitual Felony Offender Act. Misdemeanors motivated by such factors would be treated as Class A with a minimum of three months. The bill also notes local funding considerations but asserts it is exempt from local funding approval requirements due to exceptions, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers: gain heightened protection in statute; crimes against them with motivation tied to their job carry tougher penalties.
• Offenders: face higher sentences if the underlying crime was motivated by the victim’s job as a law enforcement officer or by race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or disability (the first part also references existing protected classes).
• Local governments: the bill discusses local funding implications but states it is exempt from needing local funding approval due to specific constitutional exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 13A-5-13 to add enhanced penalties when a crime’s motivation includes the victim’s employment as a law enforcement officer.
• Felonies: minimum sentences are 15 years (Class A), 10 years (Class B), 2 years (Class C), and 18 months (Class D) if motivated by the officer’s employment or protected characteristics.
• Misdemeanors: minimum sentence of three months for a misdemeanor found to be motivated by the officer’s employment or protected characteristics.
• Habitual Felony Offender Act could apply if the defendant has prior felony convictions and receives enhanced penalties under this bill.
• Local funding note: the bill indicates it would require a new or increased local fund expenditure but is excluded from local funding approval requirements due to specified exceptions in Amendment 621, Section 111.05.
• 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

Crimes and Offenses