FISCAL NOTE

House Bill 71 as amended and reported by the Committee on Ways and Means General Fund creates the 21-member Accountability Court Commission (Commission) as an agency of the Alabama Supreme Court to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices for all diversion programs. The bill (1) provides for the commission to appoint a director, whose salary is set by the commission, and other staff members to implement and administer the provisions of this bill; (2) provides for the commission to reimburse travel expenses of certain members of the commission, estimated at $1,200 per meeting; and (3) requires the commission to submit an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and the Administrative Director of Courts.

The bill further provides that by January 1, 2022 the commission shall adopt a transition plan for all diversion programs and existing plans in existence on the effective date of this bill shall continue unabated.

These provisions could increase the administrative obligations of the Administrative Office of Courts, by an undetermined amount, to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this bill. In addition, this bill could increase the annual obligations of the Supreme Court, paid from the State General Fund, by an undetermined amount, related to the creation and administration of the Commission, including the hiring of staff, reimbursement of travel for certain commission members, and the implementation of the provisions of this bill.

This bill could also increase the administrative obligations of the various diversion programs to collect and maintain participant information and to report that information to the Commission.