HB232 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cynthia Lee AlmondAlabama Public Service Commission

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the City of Tuscaloosa; to amend Section 8 of Act 2011-660, 2011 Regular Session (Acts 2011, p. 1751) to further provide that crime prevention programs and the Behavioral Health Unit of the Tuscaloosa Police Department shall share in the disbursement of application fees from the pretrial diversion program.

Summary

HB232 changes how pretrial diversion fees are collected and used in Tuscaloosa, ensuring funds support crime prevention and the Behavioral Health Unit while protecting indigent offenders' access.

What This Bill Does

It establishes nonrefundable pretrial diversion fees: $1,000 for misdemeanor offenses and DUI, $500 for traffic offenses not including DUI, and $100 for violations, with the city attorney setting the exact amounts. The fees are deposited into the city's general fund, but at least 25% must fund technology and training for law enforcement and at least 25% must fund crime prevention programs, the Behavioral Health Unit, or the Indigent Treatment Fund. The Crime Prevention Programs and the Tuscaloosa Police Department's Behavioral Health Unit shall share in the disbursement of these fees. Offenders cannot be denied entry into the pretrial diversion program solely because they cannot pay the fee, and waivers or reductions may be granted for just cause (including indigency) with indigency determinations made by the city under specific financial feasibility conditions.

Who It Affects

• Offenders approved for the City of Tuscaloosa pretrial diversion program: they will pay the specified application fees, may receive fee waivers or reductions for indigency, and cannot be excluded from participation solely because they cannot pay.
• Crime prevention programs and the Tuscaloosa Police Department's Behavioral Health Unit (and the Indigent Treatment Fund): they will receive a minimum share of the collected application fees (at least 25% combined for tech/training and for these programs), funded from the general fund.

Key Provisions

• Sets nonrefundable pretrial diversion application fees: $1,000 for misdemeanors and DUI, $500 for traffic offenses not including DUI, and $100 for violations, with the city attorney establishing the exact amounts.
• Requires the fees to be allocated with a minimum of 25% for technology and training for law enforcement and a minimum of 25% for crime prevention programs, the Behavioral Health Unit, or the Indigent Treatment Fund.
• Adds that crime prevention programs and the Tuscaloosa Police Department's Behavioral Health Unit shall share in the disbursement of the application fees.
• Prohibits denial of pretrial diversion entry based solely on inability to pay; waivers or reductions may be given for just cause, including indigency, with indigency determinations made by the city under a standard that mitigation occurs only if there is no near-term ability to pay.
• Leaves the city attorney responsible for establishing the fee schedule and the amount per offender.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.