AL SB488

Establishes a solicitor's fee in all juvenile, traffic, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases in Etowah County courts, equal to docket fees assessed upon adjudication of guilt and distributed to the Fair Trial Tax Fund.

Distributes solicitor's fee monthly with $3 per case going to the Etowah County Law Library Fund and remainder to the Solicitor's Fund or District Attorney's Fund.

Imposes an additional $7 court cost per case: $2 to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office and $5 to the Circuit Clerk of Etowah County or municipal court clerks depending on jurisdiction.

Allows fees to be waived or remitted only if the defendant proves to the sentencing judge inability to pay within the reasonable foreseeable future.

Becomes effective upon passage and approval by the Governor and ratification of a constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to fix court costs in Etowah County by local law.