AL HB755

Criminal sex offenders required to register with county sheriffs must pay a $60 registration fee upon initial registration and annually thereafter to defray record maintenance costs.

Payment obligations may be waived based on indigency rules adopted by the conviction court or criteria established by the Department of Corrections.

Failure to pay the registration fee within 30 days of initial registration or annual due date constitutes a failure to register but does not prevent the offender from registering.

First offense of failing to pay the fee is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment; second or subsequent offense is a Class C felony punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment.

The bill becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and Governor approval, and is exempt from Amendment 621 constitutional requirements because it defines a new crime.