The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance the financial operations of the sheriff's office in Escambia County by renaming the existing fund to the "Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund." It mandates that all fees and proceeds from services, including personal service documents and fundraising events, be deposited into this fund. The bill allows the sheriff to contract with entities for service of process and increases the fees for personal service documents by $15, directing the additional funds to the sheriff's fund. It also clarifies that the sheriff can charge fees for fingerprinting services, which must also be deposited into the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund. The bill removes previous limitations that confined these provisions to Escambia County, ensuring that funds from various activities are exclusively used for law enforcement purposes.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a fee structure for pistol permits, setting a standard fee of $20 and a reduced fee of $15 for individuals aged 65 and older. It specifies that all collected fees will be deposited into the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund, which must be maintained in a local bank. The bill requires annual audits of the fund by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, with reports submitted to the sheriff within 30 days of completion. It ensures that the establishment of the fund does not affect other income sources for the sheriff's office and mandates the transfer of remaining funds from specified existing accounts to the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund by October 1, 2025, with the act taking effect on the same date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45-27-231, 45-27-231, 45-27-231, 45-27-231, 45-27-231, 45-27-232, 45-27-233