House Bill 546 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ernie YarbroughRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Incarceration; to provide required time periods in the administration of the Lawrence County Community Corrections and Court Services Fund

Summary

HB546 would reform how Lawrence County funds its Community Corrections and Court Services, update bond-release rules, allow municipal participation, repeal an old rehabilitation program, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

All money in the Lawrence County fund must be spent on implementing the subpart, including staff, administration, transportation, grant matching, and treatment/pretrial programs. If there is a year-end surplus, the county commission can vote to move it to the General Fund if it exceeds what is needed to run the subpart. The bill changes bond-release rules for non-capital offenses, allowing release on personal recognizance or appearance bonds with a 10% cash deposit and directing 10% of that deposit to the fund, while permitting additional conditions to ensure appearance or public safety. It lets municipalities opt in to participate and contribute revenue from work-release programs, and it repeals an older rehabilitation/work-release act, with the measure taking effect October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Lawrence County residents who are defendants or program participants, as the use of fund money and bond-release rules directly affect their case management and options.
• Lawrence County Commission and county officials who manage the Fund and decide how any year-end surplus is distributed.
• Municipalities within Lawrence County, which may elect to participate and must contribute revenue from work-release programs to the fund.
• Courts, law enforcement, and corrections personnel who administer bonds, release decisions, and fund programs.

Key Provisions

• Amends 45-40-233.75 to require fund expenditures cover program implementation, staffing, administration, transportation, grant matching, and treatment/education/pretrial programs.
• Adds a surplus provision: year-end surpluses may be transferred to the General Fund of Lawrence County if deemed more than necessary to run the subpart.
• Amends 45-40-233.77 to adjust appearance-bond procedures, including a 10% cash deposit with 10% remitted to the fund and possible additional conditions to ensure appearance or public safety.
• Amends 45-40-233.81 to allow municipalities to elect participation by resolution and to contribute revenue from work-release programs, with effective timing tied to resolution delivery.
• Repeals Act 1979-736 (rehabilitation/work-release program).
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 18, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Lawrence County