The bill amends Sections 31-13-3 and 36-18-32 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance definitions related to immigration and establish new requirements for law enforcement agencies. It introduces the term "illegal alien" to define individuals unlawfully present in the United States and clarifies definitions for terms such as "employer," "employee," and "contractor." A significant requirement mandates law enforcement agencies to collect fingerprints and DNA from any illegal alien in their custody, which must be submitted for testing or cataloging. The bill also includes deletions of certain phrases to streamline language, such as changing "shall" to "may" in some definitions and removing outdated terms.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Alabama DNA Database Fund within the State Treasury, managed by the Director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, for the exclusive purpose of implementing the article's provisions. It modifies the management and collection of funds for this database, increasing the fee assessed in criminal cases from twelve dollars to fifteen dollars, with a structured fee schedule leading to fourteen dollars by 2026. The bill emphasizes accurate record-keeping of expenditures from the fund and prohibits financial interests for the director or staff related to fund investments. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2025, and mandates monthly remittance of collected fees to the director, aiming to enhance the operational efficiency of the Alabama DNA Database while ensuring compliance and financial oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 31-13-3, 36-18-32
Enrolled: 31-13-3, 36-18-32