Code of Alabama - Title 15: Criminal Procedure - Section 15-20A-22 - Adult sex offender - Registration fee

Section 15-20A-22 - Adult sex offender - Registration fee.

(a) An adult sex offender shall pay a registration fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10) to each registering agency where the adult sex offender resides beginning with the first quarterly registration on or after July 1, 2011, and at each quarterly registration thereafter.

(b) Each time an adult sex offender terminates his or her residence and establishes a new residence, he or she shall pay a registration fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10) to each registering agency where the adult sex offender establishes a new residence.

(c) If, at the time of registration, the adult sex offender is unable to pay the registration fee, the registering agency may require the adult sex offender to pay the fee in installments not to exceed 90 days. The registering agency shall waive the registration fee if the adult sex offender has an order from the court declaring his or her indigence. In the event the adult sex offender is determined to be indigent, a periodic review of the adult sex offender's indigent status shall be conducted by the court to determine if the offender is no longer indigent. Further, if the offender is determined to be indigent by the sentencing court, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the offender from being placed on a payment plan where the entire fee is collected in total.

(d)(1) The fees collected under this section shall be appropriated to the registering agency to defray the costs associated with sex offender registration, verification, and notification.

(2) Any and all registration fees collected by the sheriff, or his or her designee, shall be deposited in the county general fund earmarked for use of the sheriff and shall be paid to the sheriff upon his or her request to be used at the discretion of the sheriff for any law enforcement purpose related to sex offender registration, notification, tracking, or apprehension.

(3) The monies provided in this section and the use of the funds shall in no way diminish or take the place of any other reimbursement or other source of income established for the sheriff or the operation of his or her office.

(4) Any and all registration fees collected by a chief of police, or his or her designee, shall be deposited into the municipal general fund and made available to the affected law enforcement agency or department upon requisition of the chief law enforcement official of such agency or department and shall be used for any lawful purpose related to sex offender registration, notification, tracking or apprehension.

(5) The monies provided in this section and the use of the funds shall in no way diminish or take the place of any other reimbursement or other source of income established for the chief of police or the operation of his or her office.

(e) Any person who willfully fails to pay the required registration fee at the time of registration, or at the time at which the installment payment is due, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Upon a second or subsequent conviction for willful failure to pay the required registration fee, the adult sex offender shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Act 2011-640, p. 1569, §22; Act 2015-463, §1.)

Last modified: May 3, 2021