SB228 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code sections governing prisoner feeding in county jails to increase the state's per diem allowance from $1.75 to $2.25 per prisoner per day, with $1.75 from regular appropriations and $1.25 conditionally appropriated.

• Establishes a Prisoner Feeding Fund in each county sheriff's office to receive all state payments for prisoner feeding; sheriffs may expend up to 25 percent of unencumbered annual balances on jail operations or law enforcement purposes, with remainder retained for feeding expenses.

• Creates an Emergency Prisoner Feeding Fund with $500,000 automatically appropriated annually (capped at $1,000,000 total) to provide emergency assistance when counties face unforeseeable cost overruns that deplete their Prisoner Feeding Fund, limited to 80 percent of actual overrun up to $25,000 per year.

• Prohibits conversion of prisoner feeding funds into personal income for any public official or employee and requires regular audits by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

• Repeals Section 14-6-43 and becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.