HB456 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Clarke County, sheriff authorized to collect fees for certain services

Summary

HB456 allows Clarke County's sheriff to charge and collect fees for certain services and for personal service of process, with specified use of the funds and exemptions.

What This Bill Does

The sheriff may charge reasonable fees for fingerprinting, records, copies of records, photo ID cards, funeral duties, and court-ordered ankle monitors, but cannot charge these fees if a law enforcement agency or the district attorney/grand jury requests the service for official purposes. Fees collected are remitted to the Clarke County Commission, and funds designated for law enforcement may go to the Sheriff’s Fund without replacing other income. The act also adds a service of process fee for personal service of process, with a hardship exemption approved by a judge; half of these fees go to the Circuit Clerk’s Fund and half to the Sheriff’s Office, and the district attorney and grand jury are exempt from this fee. The act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Clarke County residents and individuals who use sheriff services (they may pay new fees for services like fingerprinting, reports, copies, and photo identification cards).
• Clarke County government entities—the Sheriff’s Office and the County Commission (they will collect, allocate, and manage the new fees; funds are split between the Sheriff’s Office and the Circuit Clerk’s Fund).

Key Provisions

• Allows the Clarke County Sheriff to charge reasonable fees for fingerprinting, reports, copies of records, photo identification cards, funeral duties, and court-ordered ankle monitors; exemptions apply when requests come from law enforcement or the district attorney/grand jury for official purposes.
• Implements a service of process fee for personal service of process, with a hardship exemption determined by a judge; funds are split with half deposited to the Circuit Clerk's Fund and half to the Sheriff’s Office; proceeds must be deposited with the Clarke County Commission and do not replace other income.
• District attorney and grand jury are exempt from payment of the service of process fees.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Clarke County