Under existing law, law enforcement records of children in criminal proceedings are not public records and may not be published except in certain circumstances. Also, under existing law, it is unlawful to directly or indirectly disclose, make use of, or knowingly permit the use of certain law enforcement records of a child charged with a criminal offense. This bill would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly disclose, make use of, or permit the use of certain law enforcement records of a child charged with a criminal offense. Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, 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 section. 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 section.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12-15-134, 12-15-134