AI-assisted research summary: This section creates the Alabama DNA Database Fund and sets rules for who controls it, how it may be used, how court fees are split and remitted, and what records must be kept.
(a) There is established a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Alabama DNA Database Fund. (b) The fund shall be placed under the management or administration of the Director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for the exclusive purposes of implementing this article. (c) The fund shall consist of all monies received by the director pursuant to this section. (d) The director shall have control of those funds subject to this article and the laws of the State of Alabama. (e) Monies deposited in the Alabama DNA Database Fund may be expended by the Director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in accordance with this article. The investment of monies in the fund by the State Treasurer shall remain in the Alabama DNA Database Fund. At the end of each fiscal year any unexpended or unencumbered monies shall remain in the fund. However, no funds shall be withdrawn or expended except as budgeted and allotted according to law and only in the amounts authorized by the Legislature in the general appropriation bill or other appropriation bills. (f) Neither the director nor any member of the director’s staff nor any employee of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences shall have any financial interest in any such investments or receive any reward, thing of value, or commission in respect thereto. (g) The director shall keep detailed permanent records of all expenditures and disbursements from the fund. (h) In all municipal, district, and circuit court civil cases, and upon initiation of attachment, garnishment, or execution proceedings, a fee in the amount of two dollars ($2) shall be assessed and collected. In all municipal, district, and circuit court criminal cases, in bond forfeiture proceedings, and upon the issuance of any alias or capias warrant of arrest, a fee in the amount of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be assessed and collected. The fee shall be collected by the court clerk and remitted as follows: (1) Alabama DNA Database Fund. a. For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, seven dollars ($7). b. For fiscal year 2011, eight dollars ($8). c. For fiscal years 2012 through 2025, eleven dollars ($11). d. For fiscal year 2026 and thereafter, fourteen dollars ($14). (2) Citizenship Trust pursuant to Section 16-44A-31, for the purposes described in Section 36-18-32.1. a. For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, five dollars ($5). b. For fiscal year 2011, four dollars ($4). c. For fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, one dollar ($1). Provided, however, that there shall be no additional fees imposed for violations relating to parking tickets or small claims cases. (i) The amount of the fees shall be remitted by the person or authority collecting the same to the director on the 10th day of the month following the month in which the fee is paid. It shall be the duty of the clerk or other authority collecting those court fees to keep accurate records of the amounts due the director for the benefit of the fund established under this section.