SB37 Alabama 2017 Session

This bill would require a court to order a defendant convicted of a traffic violation or a Class B or Class C misdemeanor who is unable to make payment of a fine, penalty, or court cost within 30 days of sentencing to make payments through a deferred payment or installment agreement or to perform community service as a means of satisfying the debt

This bill would authorize a court to reduce, and in some circumstances remit, fines and fees owed by a defendant

This bill would prohibit a court from incarcerating a defendant solely on the grounds of an inability to pay a fine, fee, penalty, court cost, or restitution

This bill would prohibit a private entity from assessing fees against a defendant for probation or collection services performed by that private entity

This bill would also prohibit the suspension or revocation of the driver's license of a defendant solely on the grounds of a failure to appear or for nonpayment of a fine or fee in connection with a traffic violation or Class B or Class C misdemeanor and would require reinstatement of a driver's license if previously suspended or revoked for failure to appear or for such nonpayment

Relating to payment of fees and court costs; to require a court to order a defendant convicted of a traffic violation or a Class B or Class C misdemeanor who is unable to make payment of a fine, penalty, or court cost within 30 days of sentencing to make payments through a deferred payment or installment agreement or to perform community service as a means of satisfying the debt; to authorize a court to reduce, and in some circumstances remit, fines and fees owed by a defendant; to prohibit a court from incarcerating a defendant solely on the grounds of an inability to pay a fine, fee, penalty, court cost, or restitution; to prohibit a private entity from assessing fees against a defendant for probation or collection services performed by that private entity; to prohibit the suspension or revocation of the driver's license of a defendant solely on the grounds of a failure to appear or for nonpayment of a fine or fee in connection with a traffic violation or Class B or Class C misdemeanor; and to require reinstatement of a driver's license if previously suspended or revoked for failure to appear or for such nonpayment.