HB171 Alabama 2011 Session

Under existing law, a person commits the crime of disrupting a funeral or memorial service if the person engages in a protest within 500 feet of the entrance to a funeral facility or church within 60 minutes before or during a funeral service

This bill would provide that a person would be guilty of the offense if a protest is within 1,000 feet of the property line of the funeral facility

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Section 13A-11-17 of the Code of Alabama 1975, providing the offense of disrupting a funeral or memorial service, to increase the distance within which a protest is prohibited subject to existing penalties; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.