HB71 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Accountability courts, establish the Accountablility Court Commission with the judicial branch, to provide duties of the commission, to provide appointment and terms of its members, to provide for the reporting of information relating to diversion programs, Secs. 12-23B-1 to 12-23B-7, inclusive, added

Summary

HB71 creates the Accountability Court Commission to develop, coordinate, and oversee evidence-based diversion programs (like drug courts and pretrial diversion) in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Accountability Court Commission within the judicial branch and assigns it duties to develop statewide evaluation plans, coordinate and disseminate evidence-based best practices, monitor programs, and promote participation while keeping programs voluntary. The bill requires the commission to build a diversion program database and report annually to key legislative and judicial bodies. It also lays out who serves on the commission, how meetings work, and the ability to hire staff. It mandates a transition plan to adopt evidence-based practices by a set date and authorizes rules to implement the chapter.

Who It Affects

• Diversion program participants and the staff/organizations operating these programs would face new data collection and monitoring requirements and a push to use evidence-based practices.
• Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and state agencies involved in diversion programs would participate on the Accountability Court Commission and have roles in governance and implementing the new practices.

Key Provisions

• Creates Chapter 23B and the Accountability Court Commission within the judicial branch.
• Defines diversion programs to include drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, pretrial diversion programs, and other specialty courts with structured, evidence-based interventions.
• Assigns duties to the commission: develop/update statewide evaluation plans, coordinate and disseminate best practices, make recommendations, plan to increase participation (voluntary), develop a diversion program database, and monitor programs.
• Specifies commission composition, including judges, attorneys, bar members, and agency heads, with four-year terms and diversity requirements; allows meetings by teleconference and election of officers.
• Allows the commission to appoint an executive director and staff; outlines compensation and expense reimbursement.
• Requires each diversion program to collect monthly and per-participant data and submit to the commission by the 15th of each month; the commission then reports annually to specified legislative/judicial bodies.
• Requires a transition plan by January 1, 2022 to move programs to the commission's evidence-based practices; existing pretrial diversion programs continue with reporting transitioning to the commission.
• The Administrative Office of Courts will adopt necessary rules to implement the chapter.
• The act becomes effective immediately 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

Accountability Courts