The bill amends Section 22-27-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to exempt households whose sole source of income is veterans' benefits from paying solid waste collection fees, adding to the existing exemption for those relying solely on Social Security benefits. Households seeking this exemption must provide proof of income to the county health officer, who will forward the request to the appropriate authorities. The exemption remains valid as long as the income source is unchanged and must be requested annually. Additionally, local governments are permitted to grant further exemptions for households with incomes not exceeding 75 percent of the federal poverty level.

The bill also includes technical revisions to streamline existing law, such as the deletion of phrases like "and is hereby authorized to" and "shall have the power and." It clarifies the definition of "reasonable distance" for solid waste collection services and redefines "solid waste officer" to include any designated county official or employee. Furthermore, it ensures that no person or household is required to pay solid waste fees unless services are actually provided. The bill introduces a "certificate of exception" for individuals or businesses to manage their own solid waste, with a $10 application fee, and clarifies that no exception or fee is needed for generators using their own permitted facilities for waste disposal. The effective date for this act is set for October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-27-3
Enrolled: 22-27-3