SB332 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Jefferson County, county employees, charged with enforcing ordinances, violations, authority as a peace officer to serve warrants

Summary

The bill would let Jefferson County employees who enforce local ordinances be designated as peace officers with authority to serve warrants, subject to training standards, starting June 1, 2024.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes county employees whose duties include investigating, prosecuting, and enforcing county ordinance violations or local laws to be designated as peace officers by their appointing authority. These officers would have the authority to execute warrants or other lawful processes for violations of county ordinances or local laws. They must meet minimum law enforcement standards and hold current POST certification, and they would have the same protections as deputy sheriffs in Alabama.

Who It Affects

• Jefferson County employees whose duties include investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of county ordinances or local laws: they may be designated as peace officers, must meet standards, and gain warrant-serving authority.
• Residents of Jefferson County and the broader county community: enforcement actions and warrant service could be carried out by county employees designated as peace officers, with deputy-sheriff–level protections.

Key Provisions

• County employees whose duties include investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of county ordinance violations or local laws may be designated as peace officers by their appointing authority.
• Designated peace officers have authority to execute warrants on persons charged by a warrant or other lawful process for county ordinance or local law violations.
• Designated officers must meet the minimum standards for law enforcement officers and hold a current certification from the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission (POST).
• The designated peace officers shall have the same protections as deputy sheriffs in the state.
• The act becomes effective on 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

Jefferson County