SB158 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Linda Coleman-MadisonVivian Davis FiguresBobby D. Singleton

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Law enforcement, procedures to create a database to maintain law enforcement information providing civil protections, providing for background checks and pre-employment checks

Summary

SB158 would create a centralized, confidential Law Enforcement Officer Employment Database managed by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission to collect and share disciplinary actions, employment history, and pre-employment background information on Alabama law enforcement officers.

What This Bill Does

It would establish a centralized electronic database overseen by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission to store disciplinary actions, separations, use-of-force findings, criminal background information, and psychiatric evaluations. Law enforcement agencies must report this information using a uniform format and within set timeframes; former employers must disclose an officer's employment history when another agency requests it. The bill imposes confidentiality for database data, criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure, and civil immunity for good-faith disclosures. It also requires pre-employment checks before hiring officers and authorizes the Commission to collect and maintain related data, audit compliance, and assess penalties for non-compliance, with penalties funds supporting the program.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement agencies (state, county, and municipal) that must report disciplinary actions, separations, use-of-force records, and background information, and that must conduct pre-employment checks.
• The Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, which will maintain the database, collect data, audit compliance, and enforce reporting and disclosure rules.
• Current and prospective law enforcement officers, whose disciplinary, background, and employment information will be stored and reviewed, and who will be subject to pre-employment checks.
• Former employers of law enforcement officers, who must disclose employment history upon request from another Alabama agency.

Key Provisions

• Creates a centralized Law Enforcement Officer Employment Database managed by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, including disciplinary actions, separations, use-of-force findings, criminal background information, and psychiatric evaluations.
• Requires law enforcement agencies to report information using a uniform document and within specified timeframes; allows uploading of supporting documents.
• Mandates pre-employment checks before hiring, including fingerprint-based state and national background checks, employment and education history, credit history, residential history, mental health review, prior terminations, school records, social media, and references; results are submitted to the Commission and kept confidential.
• Confidentiality of database data with criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosures; provides civil immunity for good-faith disclosures related to employment purposes.
• Allows former employers to disclose an officer's employment history to other agencies upon proper request, with use limited to employment decisions and confidentiality preserved.
• The Commission may audit compliance, assess civil penalties for non-reporting (with specified amounts), and waive penalties for good-faith efforts or technical errors; penalties fund the APOS Training Fund.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from certain local expenditure requirements related to Amendment 621 due to its classification as creating or amending a crime; becomes effective after governor approval.

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

Subjects

Law Enforcement