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HB320 INTRODUCED
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HB320
DGVZRNH-1
By Representatives Pettus, Hill
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 22-Jan-26
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DGVZRNH-1 01/22/2026 EGC (L)lg 2026-215
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First Read: 22-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Existing law does not specifically address where
the monies deposited into certain county funds are to
be maintained.
This bill would require the monies deposited in
both county law library funds and presiding circuit
judge's judicial administration funds to be maintained
in separate funds within the county treasury.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code
language to current style.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to county law library and judicial
administration funds; to amend Sections 11-25-7 and 12-19-310,
Code of Alabama 1975; to require county law library funds to
be maintained in a separate fund in the county treasury; to
require presiding circuit judge's judicial administration
funds to be maintained in a separate fund in the county
treasury; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to
update the existing code language to current style.
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update the existing code language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 11-25-7 and 12-19-310 are amended
to read as follows:
"§11-25-7
Upon the establishment of a county law library under
the provisions of this chapter , each county shall have and
maintain a separate fund within the county treasury known as
the County Law Library Fund and may have a separate law
library fund for each law library in the county. The county
law library funds shall consist of fundsmonies appropriated by
the state, county, or municipal governments ,; fundsmonies
collected under the provisions of law ,; proceeds from the sale
of copies, books, and other materials, or received from
donations, gifts, grants, and funds other than those
appropriated, and shall be audited as other county funds are
audited. SaidA county law library fund may be used to match
grants for library purposes. Library funds may be used to pay
library personnel. All purchases by or on behalf of sucha
county law library shall be exempt from all State of Alabama,
county, or municipal sales, use, or other similar taxes."
"§12-19-310
(a) In addition to the docket fees now authorized by
law, additional docket fees shall be assessed in all circuit,
district, and municipal courts as follows:
(1) In civil cases in the circuit and district courts,
except child support cases and as further provided for small
claims cases, an additional docket fee of forty-five dollars
($45) and in small claims cases an additional docket fee of
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($45) and in small claims cases an additional docket fee of
fifteen dollars ($15).
(2) In criminal cases in the circuit, district, and
municipal courts, except juvenile cases and as further
provided for traffic cases, an additional docket fee of forty
dollars ($40) and in traffic cases, but excluding parking
violations, an additional docket fee of twenty-six dollars
($26).
(b)(1) Two dollars ($2) of the traffic docket fee shall
be distributed to the Police Officers' Annuity Fund before any
distribution pursuant to subsections (c) and (d).
(2) Ten dollars ($10) of each fee in municipal court
shall be retained by the presiding municipal judge or the
municipal court clerk for operation of the municipal court
and, before any distribution in subsections (c) and (d),
distributed to the municipality for the operation of the
municipal courts.
(c) There is established in the State Treasury the
State Judicial Administration Fund. Two-thirds of the docket
fees collected pursuant to subsection (a) shall be distributed
to the fund and used by the Administrative Office of Courts as
determined by the Administrative Director of Courts for the
operation of courts in this state.
(d) There is established in each judicial circuit of
this state the Presiding Circuit Judge's Judicial
Administration Fund and in each county in this state the
Circuit Clerk's Judicial Administration Fund. One-sixth of the
docket fees collected in each circuit pursuant to subsection
(a) shall be distributed to the Presiding Circuit Judge's
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(a) shall be distributed to the Presiding Circuit Judge's
Judicial Administration Fund in the circuit and maintained
within the county treasury in the circuit . One-sixth of the
docket fees collected in each county pursuant to subsection
(a) shall be distributed to the Circuit Clerk's Judicial
Administration Fund in the county.
(e)(1) The funds distributed pursuant to subsection (d)
shall be expended for the support of local court operations,
including, but not limited to, salaries and benefits of court
employees where necessary for the efficient operations of the
courts in the circuit and for other expenses as individually
determined necessary by the presiding circuit judge or any
circuit clerk to promote efficient administration of justice.
Funds distributed pursuant to subsection (d) shall not reduce
the amount payable to the presiding circuit judge or any
circuit clerk under any local act or general act or reduce or
affect the amounts of funding allocated by the Administrative
Office of Courts to the budget of the presiding circuit judge
or any circuit clerk.
(2) In addition to subdivision (1) relating to the
circuit clerk, each clerk, at his or her discretion, may use
the money in the Circuit Clerk's Judicial Administration Fund
for the purpose of awarding merit and promotions promotion
raises to full-time employees of the clerk's office.
(f) All expenditures of funds pursuant to this section
shall be audited as all other state funds are audited.
(g) The docket fees assessed pursuant to this section
shall not be waived or remitted by the court unless all docket
fees associated with the case are waived or remitted.
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fees associated with the case are waived or remitted.
(h) The court clerk shall distribute the fees provided
for in this section on a monthly basis as other costs and fees
are distributed."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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