HB274 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul W. LeeRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Prisoners, increases the money paid by the state to counties to feed prisoners and the money deposited into the Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund

Summary

HB274 would raise the state’s daily payment to counties for prisoner feeding, require state money for feeding to go into the Prisoner Feeding Fund, and expand and adjust the Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund and related funding rules.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill increases the daily state payment for feeding prisoners from $2.25 to $3.25 per prisoner. It requires state monies received for prisoner feeding in sheriff's offices to be deposited into the Prisoner Feeding Fund. It raises the annual deposit to the Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund from $500,000 to $750,000 and broadens eligibility and procedures for emergency funding, including allowing county commissions to apply after an unforeseen cost overrun and raising the per-year payout limit. It also prevents the Department of Finance from using transfers from other local funds as a reason to deny emergency funding and makes minor, technical language updates.

Who It Affects

• County sheriffs and county commissions — receive higher state feeding payments ($3.25 per prisoner per day) and can use any available funds to feed prisoners; can apply for Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund support after overrun; could receive up to $50,000 per year from the Emergency Fund.
• Department of Finance and state auditors — must review and process payments and emergency fund applications; cannot deny emergency funding based on transfers from other local funds; will see updated funding procedures and record-keeping requirements.

Key Provisions

• Increase the daily state payment for feeding prisoners from $2.25 to $3.25 per prisoner.
• All state monies received for feeding prisoners in a sheriff's office must be deposited into the Prisoner Feeding Fund.
• Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund deposits increase from $500,000 to $750,000 annually.
• County commissions may apply for Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund funds after an unforeseeable cost overrun (not only after depletion of local funds).
• Department of Finance cannot use transfers from another local source as grounds to deny emergency funding.
• County commissions may receive up to $50,000 per year from the Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund (up from $25,000).
• Nonsubstantive, technical updates to update language and style; effective June 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Counties & Municipalities