Committee advances bill to create state domestic-violence offender registry despite fiscal questions

The House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 309, a proposal to create a state domestic-violence offender registry administered by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Sponsor Representative Wanda Lynn Lee (as introduced in committee) said the registry would require courts to report persistent offenders and would impose a fine (up to $150) on persistent offenders with $100 directed to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on implementation and costs. Representative Pettis cited the bill’s fiscal note: "Alabama law enforcement agency established and administered a domestic violence offender register by agency invested $1,000,000 and $500,000 a year to keep it up," and questioned whether the general fund would need to provide resources. Other members asked whether photographs and registration tasks would be handled by clerks, probation officers, or sheriff booking processes and whether the clerk’s office would be unduly burdened.

The sponsor and other lawmakers responded that the court would submit registration information to the agency (and that many jurisdictions already have clerk counters to accept routine filings) and that practical administration details would be determined by court administrators and the agency implementing the registry. After discussion, the committee voted to grant a favorable report by voice vote.

The committee did not resolve all implementation or funding questions; lawmakers said the general-fund committee should examine the fiscal note as the bill moves forward.