HB245INTRODUCED
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7G8IV2-1
By Representatives Standridge, Shedd(N & P)
RFD: Local Legislation
First Read: 04-Apr-23
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5 7G8IV2-1 04/04/2023 JC (L)tgw 2023-379
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A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Blount County; to provide for a new court
cost to fund payments to employees of the sheriff's office who
perform hazardous duties; and conditioning operation on voter
approval at a referendum.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) Immediately upon approval by a majority
of the voting qualified electors of Blount County, in addition
to any other court costs authorized in Blount County, there
shall be taxed a fee as follows:
(1) Twenty-five dollars ($25) in each civil case filed
in any court, except for the small claims division of the
district court.
(2) Twenty-five dollars ($25) in all misdemeanor and
felony criminal cases, including traffic offenses, upon
conviction.
(3) Ten dollars ($10) for each case filed in the small
claims division of the district court.
(b) This fee shall not be waived by any court unless
all other fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges
associated with the case are waived.
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(c) The fee collected pursuant to this section by the
clerk of each court shall be paid into a special fund
designated by the Blount County Commission as the Sheriff's
Department Hazardous Duty Fund, and shall be earmarked for
hazardous duty payment to the nonclerical employees of the
sheriff's office, excluding the sheriff, who perform hazardous
duties.
(d)(1) No earlier than October 1, 2024, the sheriff
shall certify to the county commission each employee who has
engaged in hazardous duty, and an amount sufficient to pay an
equal amount to each employee shall be disbursed from the
Hazardous Duty Fund.
(2) At any time after the first disbursement of
hazardous duty pay by the county commission, the commission
and the sheriff may make hazardous duty payments annually, or
may determine to make such payments at semi-annual, quarterly,
or monthly intervals as they agree circumstances warrant.
Section 2. Section 1 of this act shall become operative
only if approved by a majority of the qualified electors of
Blount County who vote in an election to be held on the day
designated by the Judge of Probate of Blount County. The
notice of the election shall be given by the judge of probate,
and the election shall be held, conducted, and the results
canvassed in the same manner as other county elections. The
election shall be held in conjunction with the next regularly
scheduled election to be held in the county. The question
shall be, "Do you favor the adoption of Act No.___, of the
2023 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, to provide
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hazardous duty pay to the nonclerical employees of the Blount
County Sheriff's Office, excluding the Sheriff, by issuing a
new court cost in Blount County of no more than twenty-five
dollars ($25)? Yes ( ) No ( )." The county shall pay any costs
and expenses not otherwise reimbursed by a governmental agency
which are incidental to the election. If a majority of the
votes cast in the election are "Yes," Section 1 of this act
shall become operative immediately. If the majority of the
votes are "No," this act shall be repealed and shall have no
further effect. The Judge of Probate of Blount County shall
certify the results of the election to the Secretary of State.
Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately
following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its
otherwise becoming law.
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