SB319 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Barbour County, new court costs and disbursement of fees provided for following referendum

Summary

SB319 would add a new $25 court cost in Barbour County to fund hazardous-duty pay for nonclerical sheriff’s office staff, but only if voters approve in a county referendum.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the bill adds new court costs: $25 in each civil case (excluding small claims), $25 in all misdemeanor and felony criminal cases upon conviction, and $10 in each small-claims case. The collected money goes into the Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Duty Fund to pay nonclerical sheriff’s office employees who perform hazardous duties (excluding the sheriff). The fund is audited and disbursements can occur semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly after the first payment, and the act is designed not to affect ordinary sheriff’s office budgets or salary increases. The changes take effect only if Barbour County voters approve the referendum; the act specifies an effective date of June 1, 2025 if approved.

Who It Affects

• Barbour County voters (qualified electors) who will vote in the referendum; their approval determines whether the new court cost and hazardous-duty pay program becomes operative.
• Nonclerical Barbour County Sheriff's Office employees who perform hazardous duties (excluding the sheriff); they would receive hazardous-duty pay funded by the new court cost.

Key Provisions

• Imposes new court costs: $25 for civil cases (excluding small claims), $25 for all misdemeanor and felony criminal cases upon conviction, and $10 for small-claims cases; the fee cannot be waived unless all other case fees are waived.
• Funds go into the Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Duty Fund to pay nonclerical employees who perform hazardous duties (excluding the sheriff); the fund is maintained by the sheriff and is audited on the same schedule as similar audits.
• Disbursement and salary rules: after the first hazardous-duty payment, the county commission and sheriff may disburse funds semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly (not less than once per year) and the act cannot be used to influence salary increases for other county employees or ordinary sheriff’s office operating funds.
• Operative condition and election: Section 1 becomes operative only if a majority of Barbour County qualified electors vote Yes in a referendum; if Yes, it takes effect immediately; if No, it is repealed; election to be held with the next regularly scheduled county election, with an effective date of June 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

Barbour County