SB115 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Gerald H. Allen

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Crimes and offenses, assault against a first responder, created, riot and inciting to riot, further provided, aggravated riot, and unlawful traffic interference, created, holding period after arrest, provided, penalties for defunding police, provided, Secs. 13A-11-3.1, 13A-11-5.1 added; Secs. 13A-6-21, 13A-11-1, 13A-11-3, 13A-11-4, 15-10-3 am'd.

Summary

SB115 creates new crimes against first responders, expands riot-related offenses, imposes mandatory minimums and stricter custody rules, and ties certain state funding to whether local police are defunded or dissolved.

What This Bill Does

It establishes assault against a first responder in the first and second degrees with specific conduct, and adds aggravated riot and unlawful traffic interference as crimes. It sets mandatory minimum prison terms for the new first-responder assaults and requires restitution to victims. It changes arrest and bail rules so people arrested for these offenses must be held for bail consideration within 24 hours (domestic violence and elder abuse hold times remain at 48 hours). It creates funding rules that withhold certain state grants and revenues from defunded jurisdictions until their police agencies are restored, and defines how to identify a defunded jurisdiction with budget-cut criteria and exceptions. It also updates definitions related to first responders and riot-related terms to align with the new offenses.

Who It Affects

• First responders and related personnel (state/local/tribal law enforcement, detention/correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and certain utility workers) face new or enhanced criminal penalties for assaults against them, plus restitution for victims.
• Local governments and taxpayers in Alabama; if a jurisdiction dissolves or defunds its police agency, it loses certain state funding until the agency is restored, and there are budget-based presumptions and exceptions governing this process.

Key Provisions

• Creates assault against a first responder in the first degree: intentional acts causing serious physical injury, injury with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, strangulation, injury during a riot, or contact with bodily fluids; classified as a Class B felony with a six-month non-allowance of probation/parole; includes restitution for medical costs, property damage, and other losses.
• Creates assault against a first responder in the second degree: intentional physical injury to a first responder; Class C felony with a minimum three-month sentence; includes restitution for medical costs, property damage, and other losses.
• Establishes the Anti-Aggravated Riot Act and creates aggravated riot: participation in a riot after an order to disperse or during a curfew, resulting in property damage over $2,500 or bodily injury; Class C felony with a three-month minimum sentence; restitution required.
• Creates unlawful traffic interference: intentionally or recklessly impeding vehicular traffic on a public road; generally Class A misdemeanor, with a Class C felony for a second or subsequent violation or if injury/damage occurs; minimum 30-day sentence; restitution required.
• Changes arrest and bail procedures for offenses listed (assault against a first responder, riot, inciting to riot, aggravated riot, unlawful traffic interference): arrestees must be held for bail consideration within 24 hours, or bail per Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure if not brought; domestic violence and elder abuse holds remain at 48 hours.
• Amends 13A-11-1, 13A-11-3, and 13A-11-4 to refine definitions (including first responder, riot, and transportation facilities) and to expand the scope of who is protected and how offenses are charged.
• Section 8 defines defunded jurisdictions and establishes funding penalties: a jurisdiction that dissolves or defunds a police agency may not receive state grants or certain state revenue allocations until the agency is fully restored; there is a budget-based presumption and exceptions; the state Comptroller and AG are involved in withholding/releasing funds.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 due to its creation of new crimes or changes in existing crimes, and sets an effective date for the act (first day of the third month after passage).

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