SB185 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Department of Corrections; to create the Corrections Motor Vehicle Replacement Fund; to allow the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections to dispose of department vehicles and equipment and to provide for the proceeds of the sales; and to provide for certain notice requirements.

Summary

SB185 would create a dedicated Corrections Motor Vehicle Replacement Fund and give the Department of Corrections the authority to dispose of its vehicles and equipment to fund replacement and repair needs.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Corrections Motor Vehicle Replacement Fund in the State Treasury to pay for replacement and repair of DOC vehicles and equipment, and it restricts the fund’s use to those tasks (not salaries). Funds come from depreciation, replacement allowances, sales, and salvage value, and proceeds stay in the fund year after year. The Commissioner (or a designee) may dispose of DOC vehicles/equipment through public auctions or negotiated sales to other state agencies or local government entities, with required notice, inspection, and payment/removal terms. All sale proceeds go into the fund, penalties for violations can be pursued via civil action, and the act becomes effective on a future date set by the bill.

Who It Affects

• Department of Corrections, which gains new authority to dispose of its vehicles/equipment and must use the fund only for replacement/repair (not salaries).
• Other state agencies, counties, municipalities, and the public who may bid on or purchase DOC vehicles/equipment through auctions or negotiated sales, subject to notice, payment, and removal rules.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Corrections Motor Vehicle Replacement Fund in the State Treasury to pay for replacement and repair of DOC motor vehicles and equipment; funds limited to operational needs of the department and not salaries.
• Sources of funds include depreciation, equipment replacement allowance, sale proceeds, and salvage value; funds are budgeted under the Budget Management Act, do not revert at year-end, and carry over to the next fiscal year.
• The DOC Commissioner may dispose of vehicles/equipment by public auction or negotiated sale to other state agencies or local governmental entities; requires at least two weeks' public notice, posting on the department website, and 48-hour inspection prior to sale; specifies payment and removal timelines; restricts state officers from acting as bidders’ agents, but they may bid or purchase.
• Penalties for violations of sale terms include damages of $1,000 to $10,000 and civil action by the Attorney General, with recovered funds going to the State General Fund; all sale proceeds go to the Corrections Motor Vehicle Replacement Fund.
• The fund supplements, but does not replace, existing departmental funds.
• Effective date is 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

Department of Corrections, sale of vehicles and equipment, distribution of proceeds