The bill amends Section 13A-6-142 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to clarify the jurisdiction over prosecutions for violations of domestic violence protection orders. It establishes that, with the exception of cases under the jurisdiction of juvenile courts, the district courts will have exclusive original jurisdiction over such prosecutions. Additionally, any pending prosecutions for violations of this section as of October 1, 2026, will be transferred to the district court. The bill also specifies that this jurisdictional change does not apply to violations arising from domestic violence protection orders issued by municipal courts.

Furthermore, the bill maintains the existing penalties for violations of domestic violence protection orders, which include classification as a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense, with increased penalties for subsequent offenses. It also imposes an additional fine of $50 to be directed to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-6-142
Engrossed: 13A-6-142
Enrolled: 13A-6-142