HB359 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt SimpsonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Baldwin County; to amend Section 45-2-80.130, Code of Alabama 1975, to create and provide for the management of the Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund.

Summary

HB359 creates a Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund funded by a new $10 court cost in most Baldwin County criminal and traffic cases to support a mental health court program.

What This Bill Does

It adds a $10 cost to each criminal case, including traffic cases, filed in Baldwin County circuit or district court, except juvenile or family court cases. The collected costs are paid to the Baldwin County Commission and deposited into a new Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund. The fund is managed by the presiding circuit judge, with input from the mental health diversionary program judge and the district attorney, and the proceeds are distributed to support the creation, implementation, and ongoing operation of the mental health court. The fee cannot be waived unless all other fees and charges for the case are waived.

Who It Affects

• Defendants charged with criminal or traffic offenses in Baldwin County will pay an additional $10 (except those in juvenile or family court).
• Baldwin County government and court system, including the Baldwin County Commission, the presiding circuit judge, the mental health diversionary program judge, and the district attorney, who will manage and use the funds to run the mental health court.
• Juvenile and family court cases are exempt from the $10 fee.

Key Provisions

• Imposes a $10 additional court cost on each criminal case, including traffic cases, filed in Baldwin County circuit or district court, excluding juvenile and family court cases.
• Collected costs are deposited into the Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund.
• The county commission, with input from the mental health diversionary program judge, must create the Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund.
• The presiding circuit judge, with input from the mental health diversionary program judge and the district attorney, distributes the funds to support the creation, implementation, and ongoing administration of the mental health court.
• Fees cannot be waived unless all other fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges for the case are waived.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective 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

Baldwin County, created and provided for the management of the Baldwin County Mental Health Court Fund.